PRINCETON,   N.  J. 


BX  7731  .E92 

Evans,   Thomas,  1798-1868. 
An  exposition  of  the  faith 
of  the  Religious  Society  of 


I- 


AN 


EXPOSITION 

OF 

THE  FAITH 

OF  THE 

RELIGIOUS  SOCIETY  OF  FRIENDS, 

COMMONLY  CALLED  QUAKERS, 

IN  THE 

FUNDAMEJTTAL  DOCTRIJ^ES  OF  THE  CHRISTUM  RELIGIO.V, 
PRINCIPALLY 

SELECTED  FROM  THEIR  EARLY  WRITINGS. 

BY  THOMAS'^EVANS. 


"  Speak  thou  tlie  things  which  become  sound  doctrine.'  '—Paul  to  Titus. 
SECOND  EDITION. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

KIMBER  AND  SHARPLESS,  10,  SOUTH  FOURTH  STREET, 
AND  THOMAS  KITE,  64,  WALNUT  STREET. 


1828. 


ADAM  WALDIE  AND  CO. .  PRINTERS 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Representatives  of  the  Religious  Society  of 
Friends,  commonly  called  Quakers,  in  Pennsylvania,  New  Jersey,  Dela- 
ware, and  the  eastern  parts  of  Maryland  and  Virginia,  held  in  Philadel- 
phia the  19th  of  the  10th  month,  1827— 

The  Committee,  to  whose  consideration  was  referred  the  preparing  or 
collecting  into  one  view,  such  a  brief  exposition  of  the  fundamental 
principles  held  by  us,  as  might  evince  to  candid,  unprejudiced  minds, 
that  they  are  the  genuine  doctrines  of  the  Christian  religion,  promul- 
gated by  our  blessed  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  and  his  Apostles;  having 
examined  a  compilation  from  the  writings  of  our  primitive  Friends, 
illustrative  of  those  principles  which  they  held  and  laboured  to  spread 
in  the  world,  and  which  we  as  a  religious  body  have  always  professed 
and  most  surely  believed ;  the  work,  after  careful  attention,  was  ap- 
proved ;  and  the  author,  Thomas  Evans,  is  at  liberty  to  publish  it :  it 
being  hoped  that  it  will  be  beneficial,  not  only  to  the  members  of  our 
own  Society,  but  to  such  others  as  are  desirous  of  correct  information, 
and  a  clear  understanding  of  the  coincidence  of  sentiment  and  unity  of 
faith,  wliich  has  continually  subsisted  in  and  among  our  worthy  prede- 
cessors, and  the  faithful  members  of  our  Religious  Society,  down  to  the 
present  day. 

Extract  from  the  Minutes. 

JONATHAN  EVANS,  Clerk. 


The  first  edition  of  the  Exposition  having  been  disposed  of,  and  a 
second  being  now  called  for,  the  author  apprehended  that  a  few  altera- 
tions and  additions  would  render  it  more  valuable.  These  have  accord- 
ingly been  made,  and  the  whole  being  submitted  to  the  examination  and 
judgment  of  the  Meeting  for  Sufferings,  the  following  minute  was  made 
on  the  subject :  viz. — 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Representatives  of  the  Religious  Society  of 
Friends,  commonly  called  Quakers,  in  Pennsylvania,  New  Jersey,  Ac. 
held  in  Philadelphia  the  17th  of  10th  month,  1828— 

Being  informed  that  the  author  of  the  treatise  styled  "An  Exposition 
of  the  Faith  of  the  Religious  Society  of  Friends,"  &c.  approved  by  this 
Meeting  in  the  10th  month  last  year,  has  made  a  few  brief  additions  in 
corroboration  of  some  of  the  statements  exhibited  in  that  work,  which 
he  designs  to  place  in  a  second  edition  that  he  is  about  publishing,  they 
were  now  accordingly  submitted  to  this  Meeting  ;  and  on  being  read  and 
deliberately  considered,  it  is  concluded  that  he  have  liberty  to  insert 
them  therein.  As  this  work  contains  much  valuable  information  and 
solid  religious  instruction,  it  is  desired  that  Friends  generally  may  so  en- 
courage it,  that  each  family  may  be  duly  supplied  with  it. 

Extract  from  the  Minutes. 

JONATHAN  EVANS,  Clerk. 


1* 


CONTENTS 


Page 

Preface   -      -      -      r  ix 

SECTION  FIRST. 

Of  t|ie  One  only  true  God,  and  the  Three  that  bear  record  in 
heaven  -40 

SECTION  SECOND. 

On  the  Divinity  and  Offices  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ  59 

SECTION  THIRD. 
On  the  Holy  Scriptures   -  246 

Conclusion      -       -       -       -       -       -.-       -       -       -  304 


LIST  OF  AUTHORITIES 


QUOTED,  OR  REFERRED  TO,  IN  THIS  WORK. 


A. 

Benjamin  Antrobus,  xxi.  149.  220. 
231. 

Alexander  Arscott,  214 
Richard  Ashby,  xxv.  55.  175.  280 
Thomas  Atkins,  xxvii.  149 
Aaron  Atkinson,  xxv.  179 
John  Abraham,  149 

B. 

John  Banks,  xxv. 

Robert  Barclay,  xx.  xxvii.  xxxi.  42. 

71  to  77.  249 
Giles  Bamardiston,    145  to  152. 

240 

Thomas  Barker,  231 
Benjamin  Bealing,  ib. 
John  Bumyeat,  xsiii.  xx^'ii.  52. 149. 
164 

Thomas  Beaven,  xxvi.  57.  286 

Joseph  Batt,  xxvii. 

John  Blakehng,  xxvii.  150 

Thomas  Bur,  xxviii.  ib. 

John  Buy,  xxviii.  ib. 

Edward  Burrough,  xxxiii.  48.  121 

to  123.  266 
Edward  Bourn,  52.  144.  272  • 
John  Bowater,  58.  221  to  230 
William  Bingley,  59.  220  to  230 
George  Bishop,  119 
Wilham  Bayly,  142 
Elizabeth  Bathurst,  159.  162.  274 
Thomas  Bayles,  200 
John  Bowne,  218 
John  Bourne,  149 
John  Blundstone,  218 
William  Byles,  ib. 
Edward  Brook,  231 
Bristol  Men's  Meeting,  xxvi.  209 
Thomas  Briggs,  149 
Jasper  Batt,  ib. 
Christopher  Bacon,  ib. 
Phineas  Bell,  149 
Thomas  Breisley,  150 


C. 

John  Crooke,  xviii.  xxxiv.  53.  132 

to  136. 142 
William  Chandler,  xxv.  53.  163. 

275 

Benjamin  Coole,  xxv.  53.  170.  276 
John  Cade,  xxv.  53.  175.  280 
Richard  Claridge,  xxvi.  56.  183. 

281 

Stephen  Crisp,  xxvii. 
James  Claypoole,  xxviii. 
Thomas  Curwen,  51 
Sarah  Cheevers,  131 
Samuel  Cater,  150. 153 
Arthur  Cotten,  201 
Samuel  Crisp,  207.  286 
William  Cooper,  21iB 
William  Crouch,  231 
Francis  Camfield,  231 
Thomas  Cox,  231 
John  Cornwell  240 
Samuel  Cooper,  ib. 
Abraham  Coldman,  241 
Thomas  Clarke,  ib. 

D. 

William  Dewsberry,  xviii.  119.  265 

Discipline,  xxix.  xxx.  236  to  246 

Georffe  Dehorn,  201 

John  Delaval,  218 

Thomas  Duckett,  ib. 

John  Danson,  231 

Richard  Davies,  149 

Bray  Doyley,  ib. 

John  Dew,  150 

E. 

Thomas  Ell  wood,  xxviii.  150.  177. 

280 

Catharine  Evans,  131 
William  Edmundson,  149.  168 
Theodore  Ecclestone,  185.  231 
John  Edge,  231 
1  Josiah  Ellis,  ib. 


viii 


LIST  OF  AUTHORITIES. 


Francis  Etteridge,  231 
John  Elson,  150 

F. 

George  Fox,  xv.  xviii.  xix.  xxxUi. 

40  to  42.  61  to  71.  145.  247 
Richard  Farnsworth,  xviii.  xxxiii. 

50.  265 

John  Field,  xxl.  56.  172.  220.  279 
John  Fiddeman,  xxv.  55.  175.  280 
Samuel  Fuller,  xxvi.  213.  289 
John  Furl  J,  sen.  xxviii. 
Benjamin  Furly,  ib. 
George  Fox,  the  younger,  xviii.  49. 

124  to  128 
William  Fallowfield,  58. 150. 221  to 

231 

Samuel  Fisher,  131 
John  Furly,  201 
Walter  Fawcett,  218 
Joshua  Fearon,  ib. 
Philip  Ford,  231 
Leonard  Fell,  149 
James  Fletcher,  150 
Francis  Fincher,  ib. 
Samuel  Fulbeck,  ib. 
John  Fowler,  241 

G. 

Roger  Gill,  xxv.  179 

William  Gibson,  xxvii.  149.  157. 

272 

John  Gratton,  187 
George  Gray,  218 
Nicholas  Gates,  149 
William  Gosnell,  ib. 

H. 

Joseph  Hodges,  xxv.  53.  166.  275 
Thomas  Holmes,  xxvii.  149 
Charles  HarfFord,  xxviii. 
Thomas  Hill,  ib. 
James  Holyday,  ib. 
Francis  HowaiH,  49.  124.  267 
William  Houlden,  50 
Ellis  Hookes,  63.  147.  231 
Richard  Hodden,  130 
Luke  Howard,  137.  150 
Hartford  Quakers,  154 
Roger  Haydock,  174.  279 
Robert  Haskins,  193.201 
Benjamin  Holme,  210. 284 
Thomas  Hudson,  231 


John  Hall,  231 
John  Harwood,  ib. 
Richard  Hubberthorn,  264 
James  Harrison,  149 
Cuthbert  Hayhurst,  ib. 
John  Higgens,  150 
John  Hill,  ib. 

J. 

Andrew  Jaffray,xxii. 
Henry  Jackson,  xxvii.  149 
Thomas  Jany,  xxvii. 
Samuel  Jennings,  149.  218 
William  Ingram,  231 
Richard  Johns,  179 
Abraham  Johnson,  231 
James  Jackson,  272 
Jonathan  Johnson,  150 

K. 

Joseph  Kirkbride,  218 
John  Kilbome,  150 

L. 

Patrick  Livingston,  xxi.  220 
Francis  Lea,  xxviii. 
Gawen  Lowry,  ib. 
Thomas  Laythes,  162 
Clement  Lake,  ib. 
Benjamin  Lindley,  187, 284  ■ 
Thomas  Lloyd,  217 
John  Lynam,  218 
Thomas  Lower,  231 
Gilbert  Latey,  ib. 
Roger  Longworth,  149 
Thomas  Larimore,  150 

M. 

Charles  Marshall,  xxiii.  xxviii.  59. 
138  to  142.  150.  221  to  230.  231. 
271 

Francis  Moore,  xxvii.  150 
James  Mammeck,  xxvii. 
Richard  Martin,  156 
Evan  Morris,  218 
George  Maries,  ib. 
Daniel  Munro,  220 
William  Mead,  231.  290 
WUliam  Macket,  231 
John  Moon,  149 

N. 

Francis  Newton,  201 


LIST  OF  At'THORITIES.  IX 


O. 

John  Osgood,  xxviii.  290 
Griffith  Owen,  218 
Robert  Owen,  ib. 
George  Oldner,  231 

P. 

Alexander  Parker,  xviii. 

Isaac  Pennington,  xviii.  47.  110  to 

118.  150.  262 
William  Penn,  xix.  xx.  xxii.  xxviii. 

42  to  45.  77  to  94.  l50.  252 
Alexander  Pyott,  xxv.  53.  166.  275 
Daniel  Phillips,  xxv.  xxxv.  203. 284 
James  Parke,  59.  221  to  231 
Edward  Plumstead,  156 
William  Phillips,  231 
William  Paul,  ib. 
Richard  Pinder,  149 

R. 

George  Rook,  xix.  90 

Ambrose  Rigge,  xxvii.  59.  149.  201 

221  to  231 
Thomas  Robinson,  xxviii. 
Abraham  Rutt,  156 
Michael  Russel,  231 
Robert  RuckhiU,  270 
Thomas  Robertson,  149 
Hugh  Roberts,  218 
Joseph  Riddledeale,  240 

S. 

Humphrey  Smith,  xviii.  118.  263 
William  Smith,  xviii. 
Thomas  Story,  xix.  xxv.  90.  179 
Anthony  Sharp,  xix.  90 
Alexander  Seaton,  xxi.  220 
Francis  Stamper,  xxi. 
Wilham  Sewell,  xxiv.  146 
Richard  Snead,  xxvii.  150 
Stephen  Smith,  xxviii.  148.  273 
William  She  wen,  xxviii.  52.  158. 
271 

H.  Sweeting,  156 
H.  Stout,  ib. 
Christopher  Story,  191 
Jdhn  Simcock,  218 
Paul  Saunders,  ib. 
John  Stringfeilow,  231 
Oliver  Sansom,  150 
Ezekiel  Sheldreck,  240 
Philip  Stevens,  241 


T. 

John  Tomkins,  xxv.  195  to  200. 

276 

Christopher  Taylor,  144.  149 
Richard  Thomas,  156 
Thomas  Thackara,218 
WiUiam  Townsend,  231 
Thomas  Twinbarrow,  ib. 
Thomas  Taylor,  149 
John  Tysoe,  150 
Anthony  Tompkins,  ib. 

U. 

Thomas  Upsher,  193.  283 
V. 

John  V^aughton,  xxi.  46.  59.  150. 

152.  220  to  230.  290 
Richard  Vickris,  xxvii.  150 
Daniel  Vandewall,  201 

W. 

George  Whitehead,  xix.  xxi.  xxii. 

xxiv.  45. 59.  62.  94  to  110.  220  to 

231.  257.  290 
John  Watson,  xxiii.  52.  150.  164 
Joseph  Wyeth,  xxvi.  xxxv.  53.  180. 

183.  277 
William  W^elch,  xxviii.  240 
Henry  Wood,  51 
Wilham  Wilson,  ib. 
John  Whitehead,  128.  149.' 270 
J.  W^ebb,  153 
Samuel  W^atson,  162 
Henry  Willis,  218 
W^iliiam  W^alker,  ib. 
Nicholas  W^aln,  ib. 
W'illiam  Watson,  ib. 
Richard  Walter,  ib. 
Samuel  Waldenfield,  220.  240 
Joseph  Wasey,  231 
John  Whiting,  63 
Morgan  Watkinson,  150 
John  Wilsford,  ib. 
Ezekiel  Wooley,  ib. 
William  Whalley,  ib. 

Y. 

William  Yardley,  218 
Yearly  Meeting,  231.  291 

Z. 

Thomas  Zachary,  150 


The  whole  number  of  authorities  cited  in  this  edition  is  two  hundred 
and  thirty-two. 


PREFACE. 


The  design  of  the  following  compilation  is  to  exhibit 
the  doctrinal  views  of  the  early  members  of  the  religious 
Society  of  Friends  in  their  own  language ;  and  to  prove, 
by  the  concurrent  testimony  of  numerous  contemporary 
^vriters,  that  they  sincerely  believed,  and  openly  avowed, 
the  great  fundamental  truths  of  the  Christian  religion. 

Notwithstanding  nearly  two  centuries  have  elapsed 
since  the  rise  of  the  Society,  during  which  period  many 
treatises  explanatory  of  its  views  have  been  published, 
yet  at  the  present  day  there  exists  a  contrariety  of  opi- 
nions respecting  the  faith  of  the  primitive  Quakers.  This 
has  not  arisen  from  any  deficiency  of  full  and  explicit  de- 
clarations of  their  belief;  for  these  are  numerous,  com- 
prehensive, and  perspicuous.  But  these  declarations  lie 
scattered  among  a  great  mass  of  controversial  works,  writ- 
ten more  than  a  century  ago  ;  possessing  little  of  the 
attractive  novelty  of  modern  literature,  and  w'ithal  so 
voluminous,  that  few  persons  have  either  the  inclination  or 
the  leisure  to  examine  their  instructive  pages.  These 
circumstances,  added  to  their  great  scarcity,  have  occa- 
sioned their  being  little  read  even  by  the  members  of  our 
own  Society,  and  hence  many  are  not  aware  of  the  plain 
and  positive  avowal  of  their  Christian  belief,  which  our 
worthy  predecessors  repeatedly  made.  Too  many  among 
us  have  grown  up  in  ignorance  of  those  precious  doctrines, 
in  support  of  which  their  forefathers  endured  the  heat  of 
cruel  persecution,  suffered  patiently  the  loss  of  property, 
imprisonment  in  loathsome  and  unhealthy  dungeons  ;  and 
even  sealed  their  testimony  with  the  sacrifice  of  life,  ra- 
ther than  renounce  the  holy  profession  which  they  had 
espoused. 

It  is  certainly  much  to  be  regretted,  that  there  should 
be  any  want  of  information  on  subjects  of  such  great  im- 
portance, so  intimately  connected  with  the  welfare,  and 
even  the  existence,  of  our  religious  Society ;  and  in  which 
2 


xiv 


PREFACE. 


every  rightly  exercised  member  must  feel  a  deep  and 
earnest  interest.  It  surely  becomes  those  who  have  the 
charge  of  educating  children,  seriously  to  consider  whe- 
ther the  acquisition  of  this  knowledge,  ought  not  to  form 
a  prominent  feature  in  every  system  of  religious  instruc- 
tion, and  whether  the  neglect  to  impart  it,  is  not  a  breach 
of  that  duty  which  they  owe  to  the  tender  objects  of  their 
care,  for  which  an  awful  responsibility  must  devolve  upon 
them. 

That  there  are  some  expressions  to  be  found  in  the 
writings  of  our  early  Friends,  the  ambiguity  of  which  has 
furnished  an  opportunity  to  prejudiced  persons  greatly  to 
misrepresent  their  meaning,  will  not  be  denied  by  any 
who  are  conversant  with  their  works.  It  is  equally  true, 
that  there  have  seldom  been  wanting,  either  envious  op- 
posers,  or  pretended  admirers,  who  have  been  prompt  to 
take  every  advantage  which  inaccuracy  or  inadvertence 
of  expression  has  thus  furnished.  And  too  often  the  igno- 
rance of  our-own  members  on  these  subjects  has  not  only 
disqualified  them  for  vindicating  the  Christian  faith  of 
their  forefathers,  but  rendered  them  the  dupes  of  such  de- 
signing and  artful  men.  Hence  it  has  happened,  that, 
through  the  prejudice  and  ill  will  of  some,  and  from  the 
want  of  better  information  in  others,  the  genuine  doc- 
trines of  true  Quakerism  have  been  perverted,  and  the 
Society  most  unjustly  misrepresented  as  rejecting  the  fun- 
damental doctrines  of  the  gospel  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour 
Jesus  Christ.  Of  this  illiberal  and  ungenerous  treatment, 
both  the  ancient  and  modern  Friends  have  much  cause  to 
complain.  It  has  been  again  and  again  practised  towards 
them,  from  the  infancy  of  the  Society  to  the  present  period. 
It  is,  however,  a  favourable  circumstance  for  the  present 
generation,  that  our  primitive  Friends  were  assailed  with 
these  unjust  accusations,  inasmuch  as  it  induced  them  re- 
peatedly to  issue  to  the  world,  the  most  solemn  and  ex- 
plicit confessions  of  the  scriptural  soundness  of  their  faith 
on  those  very  points  respecting  which  a  difference  of  sen- 
timent now  exists. 

The  peculiar  views  which  the  Society  entertained  of 
the  spiritual  nature  of  the  gospel  dispensation,  rendered  its 
members  obnoxious  to  much  opposition  from  high  pro- 
fessors, who  were  little  acquainted  with  the  practical  and 
renovating  influence  of  true  religion.    Many  and  serious 


PREFACE. 


XV 


were  the  accusations  which  their  enemies  exhibited  against 
tliem.  They  were  charged  with  denying  the  scripture 
doctrine  of  the  Holy  Three  that  bear  record  in  heaven, 
Father,  Word  and  Spirit,  One  God,  blessed  for  ever ;  be- 
cause they  confined  themselves  strictly  to  scripture  lan- 
guage, and  rejected  the  word  Trinity  as  one  of  human  in- 
vention. Yet,  at  the  same  time,  they  readily  acknowledg- 
ed their  full  and  unqualified  assent  to  all  that  the  sacred 
penmen  had  recorded  relative  to  this  solemn  and  mysteri- 
ous subject. 

Considering  the  title  of  the  Word  of  God  as  exclusively 
belonging  to  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord,  they  viewed  the  ap- 
plication of  it  to  the  inspired  writings  as  erroneous,  and 
unauthorized  by  the  scriptures  themselves.  They  believ- 
ed the  sensible  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  be  the 
primary  rule  of  faith  and  life,  and  therefore  could  not 
conscientiously  apply  this  epithet  to  the  scriptures,  how- 
ever excellent  in  themselves.  From  these  circumstances, 
their  opposers  took  occasion  to  misrepresent  them,  as  deny- 
ing the  authenticity  and  divine  authority  of  those  sacred 
records,  though  Friends  constantly  admitted,  and  indeed 
always  declared,  that  they  contained  the  words  of  God, 
spoken  by  the  Holy  Ghost  through  holy  men  of  old ;  and 
were  a  secondary  rule  subordinate  to  the  spirit;  the  best 
and  only  outward  standard  and  test,  for  determining  the 
soundness  of  doctrines,  and  to  which  they  constantly  ap- 
pealed as  authority  for  the  truths  they  promulgated. 

A  primary  and  fundamental  article  of  their  faith  was,  a 
belief  in  the  immediate  and  effectual  operation  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  or  grace  of  God,  freely  shed  abroad  in  the  hearts  of 
all  mankind,  through  the  coming  and  sufferings  of  our 
Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ.  When  George  Fox  and 
his  contemporary  labourers  were  called  forth  to  preach 
the  gospel  of  life  and  salvation,  this  blessed  holy  scripture 
doctrine  was  too  httle  known  or  believed  in  by  the  gene- 
rality of  Christian  professors.  The  practical  heart-chang- 
ing effects  of  pure  and  undefiled  religion,  were  in  many  in- 
stances superseded  by  a  routine  of  ceremonial  duties,  the 
performance  of  which  was  marked  with  cold  indifference 
or  obvious  dislike,  and  which,  though  they  might  amuse 
the  head  with  the  show  of  religion,  left  the  heart  unre- 
generated,  the  will  unsubdued',  and  the  appetites  un- 
mortified.    Being  brought,  through  the  mercy  of  God  in 


PREFACE. 


Christ  Jesus,  to  see  their  corrupt  and  undone  condition 
by  nature ;  having  not  only  felt  the  necessity,  but  realized 
the  blessedness  of  being  born  again,  created  anew  in  Christ 
Jesus  unto  good  works,  our  worthy  predecessors  were  led 
mainly  to  insist  upon  the  importance  of  the  new  birth,  and 
to  inculcate  the  doctrine  of  the  universality  and  efficacy 
of  the  grace  of  God,  as  essentially  requisite  to  be  beheved 
in  and  obeyed,  by  all  those  who  expected  to  be  made  par- 
takers of  that  life  and  immortality,  which  are  brought  to 
light  through  the  gospel  of  the  dear  Son  of  God.  They  not 
only  believed  in,  and  preached  him  as  "  God  manifest  in 
the  flesh"  of  that  prepared  body,  in  which  he  appeared  at 
Jerusalem  and  sojourned  amongst  men  ;  "  justified  in  the 
Spirit,  seen  of  angels,  preached  unto  the  Gentiles,  believed 
on  in  the  world,  and  received  up  into  glory  but  also  as 
the  light  of  men — as  the  glorious  Luminary  of  the  intellec- 
tual world  ;  as  the  eternal  Sun  of  righteousness,  a  ray  of 
whose  ineffable  brightness  shines  into  every  human  soul^ 
"  to  give  it  the  light  of  the  knowledge  of  the  glory  of  God, 
in  the  face  of  Jesus  Christ."" 

The  divinely  inspired  record  of  his  coming  in  the  flesh, 
his  miraculous  conception  and  birth  of  the  Virgin  Mary, 
his  holy  life,  mighty  miracles,  meritorious  sufferings,  and 
propitiatory  death  ;  his  glorious  resurrection,  ascension  into 
heaven,  mediation  and  intercession  with  the  Father,  they 
also  held  as  necessary  to  be  sincerely  believed,  by  all 
those  who,  through  the  good  providence  of  God,  were 
brought  to  the  knowledge  of  these  sacred  records.  These 
important  truths  were  then  fully  accredited  by  the  great 
body  of  Christian  professors,  the  doubts  and  difficulties 
w^hich  modern  scepticism  has  introduced,  being  little 
known  or  tolerated ;  there  was  therefore  less  occasion  fre- 
quently to  hold  them  up  to  public  view,  or  to  make  defence 
of  them  a  prominent  part  of  their  doctrinal  treatises.  Friends 
were  apprehensive  also,  that  too  many  were  resting  their 
hopes  of  salvation  upon  the  mere  assent  of  the  understand- 
ing to  these  essential  doctrines,  without  permitting  them 
to  have  a  practical  effect  upon  their  lives  and  conversation. 
Hence  those  faithful  ministers  of  the  gospel  believed  it 
their  duty  to  turn  the  minds  of  the  people  inward,  to  the 
spirit  and  power  of  Christ  Jesus  revealed  there,  that, 
through  obedience  thereto,  they  might  really  experience 
Him  to  be  their  Redeemer  and  Saviour,    But  this  was  not 


PREFACE. 


xvii 


done  in  opposition  to  Christ  without,  for  they  solemnly  da- 
clared  that  they  never  meant  thereby,  in  the  least  degree 
to  invalidate  or  slight  those  blessed  advantages,  which,  in 
infinite  mercy,  and  wisdom  inscrutable,  are  offered  to  man- 
kind through  the  outward  manifestation,  the  sufferings  and 
death  of  the  adorable  Son  of  God. 

Notwithstanding  these  repeated  declarations  of  the 
soundness  of  their  faith,  the  enemies  of  the  Society  great- 
ly misrepresented  and  perverted  the  doctrine  of  the  light 
of  Christ  in  the  soul  of  man.  They  pretended  to  infer 
from  it  that  the  Quakers  denied  Jesus  Christ,  as  he  ap- 
peared at  Jerusalem,  to  be  the  Saviour  of  men — that  they 
beheved  the  Godhead  or  whole  Christ  to  be  in  them,  there- 
by equalhng  themselves  with  Him,  and  rejecting  all  belief  in 
Jesus  Christ,  except  as  the  Spirit  in  man.  They  likewise 
charged  Friends  with  allegorizing  away  the  sufferings  and 
blood  of  Jesus,  by  making  them  only  typical  of  the  inward 
operations  of  the  Light — and  with  holding  the  erroneous 
notion,  that  He  was  nothing  more  than  a  great  prophet, 
supereminently  endued  with  the  spirit  of  God,  which 
dwelt  in  Him  no  otherwise  than  in  us. 

These  unfounded  charges  were  met,  on  the  part  of  the 
Society,  with  the  most  solemn  and  unequivocal  denial. 
Nor  did  Friends  rest  satisfied  with  a  mere  negative  asser- 
tion of  what  they  did  not  believe.  In  a  subject  of  such 
high  concernment,  they  deemed  it  an  incumbent  duty  to 
declare,  in  the  most  explicit  and  positive  manner,  what 
they  did  believe^  in  order  that  the  world  might  know  they 
really  were  what  they  professed  to  be — sincere  and  hum- 
ble believers  in  all  the  doctrines  of  the  Christian  religion. 
To  satisfy  every  doubt,  and  silence  every  cavil,  they  pub- 
lished repeated  declarations  of  their  faith,  drawn  up  in 
language  that  can  neither  be  misunderstood  nor  equivo- 
cated ;  and  though  these  are  not  called  creeds,  nor  pre- 
sented for  subscription  to  those  who  apply  for  membership 
amongst  them,  yet  they  are  essentially  and  properly  the 
articles  of  faith,  and  the  outward  bond  of  union,  of  the  re- 
ligious Society  of  Friends. 

Some  of  these  it  will  be  proper  to  notice,  in  order  to 
refute  the  false  and  foolish  objection  which  is  sometimes 
raised  against  modern  treatises  on  doctrinal  subjects  ;  that 
Friends  have  no  settled  code  of  doctrines,  nor  any  written 
declaration  of  their  belief. 
2* 


xvm 


PREFACE. 


The  first  confession  of  faith  which  I  find  recorded,  is  by 
Richard  Farnsworth,  pubHshed  in  the  year  1658,  about 
ten  years  after  George  Fox  commenced  his  ministry.  It 
is  entitled  "  A  Confession  and  Profession  of  Faith  in  God, 
by  his  people  who  are  in  scorn  called  Quakers."  An  ex- 
tract from  it  will  be  found  in  the  first  section  of  the  fol- 
lowing work.  In  1668  and  1671  this  was  reprinted,  with 
some  other  treatises,^liy  John  Crooke,  William  Dewsberry, 
Humphrey  Smith,  Isaac  Pennington,  and  Alexander  Par- 
ker, in  a  work  entitled  "  The  Principles  of  Truth,  being  a 
Declaration  of  our  Faith  who  are  called  Quakers." 

About  the  year  1659,  George  Fox  the  younger,  published 
a  "Testimony  concerning  the  Father,  Son,  and  Spirit,  fcc." 
and  in  1661,  being  imprisoned  for  his  faithful  testimony  to 
the  truth,  he  issued  a  paper  containing  "a  demonstration  of 
his  faith  in  four  particulars,"  viz.  "concerning  Jesus  Christ, 
the  Saviour  of  the  world;  2.  concerning  justification;  3.  con- 
cerning the  resurrection ;  4.  concerning  everlasting  glory 
and  eternal  misery." 

In  1662,  John  Crooke  published  a  declaration  of  the  doc- 
trines and  belief  of  Friends,  under  the  title  of  "Truth's 
Principles,  or  those  things  about  doctrine  and  w^orship 
which  are  most  surely  believed  and  received  among  the 
people  of  God  called  Quakers,"  &;c.  This  was  reprinted  in 
1668  and  1671,  with  the  additions,  andunder  the  title,  above 
noticed. 

In  1664,  William  Smith  published  "  A  catechism,  where- 
in many  truths  are  plainly  opened  by  way  of  question  and 
answer,  which  may  be  a  help  and  furtherance  unto  all  ten- 
der-hearted people,  who  are  breathing  after  the  Lord,  and 
wait  for  redemption  and  salvation  by  Jesus  Christ.  Also, 
something  concerning  the  foundation  and  principle  of  the 
poor  afflicted  people  of  God  called  Quakers,  and  of  their 
faith,  and  love  towards  God,  and  their  good  will  unto  men, 
being  also  plainly  demonstrated  by  way  of  question  and  an- 
swer." This  latter  part  contains  a  declaration  of  the  faith 
of  the  Society  on  several  points  of  doctrine. 

The  Society  of  Friends  having  been  repeatedly  accused 
of  denying  the  Christ  who  died  at  Jerusalem,  as  well  as  the 
holy  scriptures,  Isaac  Pennington  published  a  declaration 
of  their  faith  on  these  points,  in  an  essay  entitled  "  An  Inci- 
tation  to  Professors,  &c."  printed  in  the  year  1667.  In  an 
essay  under  the  title  of  "  A  Question  to  the  Professors  of 


PREFACE. 


xix 


Christianity,  fee/'  published  in  the  same  year,  he  has  insert- 
ed a  confession  of  the  scriptural  faith  of  the  Society  in  the 
divinity,  and  propitiator}'  sacrifice  of  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 
In  another  work,  written  in  the  year  1660,  he  gives  a  very 
full  and  clear  declaration  of  the  faith  of  Friends  in  the  doc- 
trine of  the  sacred  scriptures  relative  to  the  Holy  Three 
that  bear  record  in  heaven.    See  his  Works,  vol.  i.  p.  358. 

In  the  year  1668,  William  Penn  being  imprisoned  in  the 
Tower  on  the  chaise  of  denying  the  divinity  of  Christ,  is- 
sued a  declaration  of  his  faith  in  Him,  which  is  contain- 
ed in  his  "  Innocency  with  her  Open  Face,  (tc."  It  com- 
mences thus : — "  I  sincerely  own  and  unfeignedly  believe, 
&c." 

In  1671,  George  Whitehead  and  William  Penn  wrote  a 
treatise  entitled  "  A  Serious  Apology  for  the  Principles  and 
Practices  of  the  people  called  Quakers,  <kc.''' in  which  they 
give  forth  a  declaration  of  faith  on  behalf  of  the  Society  of 
Friends.  Two  years  after  this,  William  Penn  published  his 
"  InvaHdity  of  John  Faldo's  Vindication  in  this,  he  makes 
another  confession  of  faith,  which  he  thus  introduces  : — I 
will  end  my  part  herein,  with  our  most  solemn  confession 
in  the  holy  fear  of  God,  that  we  believe,  (S:c." 

In  1698,  a  paper  called  "Gospel  Truths,"  containing  a 
declaration  of  the  doctrines  of  Friends,  drawn  up  and  sign- 
ed by  William  Penn,  Thomas  Story,  Anthony  Sharp,  and 
George  Rook,  was  presented  to  the  bishop  of  Cork.  "  Pub- 
lished," says  Penn,  "  to  inform  the  moderate  enquirer,  and 
reclaim  the  prejudiced  to  a  better  temper,  which  God  grant, 
to  his  glory  and  their  peace."  Works,  vol.  ii.  p.  885.  It 
consists  of  eleven  articles. 

About  the  year  1671,  George  Fox  being  in  the  Island  of 
Barbadoes,  found  that  the  opponents  of  the  Society  were 
endeavouring  "  to  defame  Friends  with  many  false  and 
scandalous  reports,"  relative  to  their  doctrines  ;  whereupon 
he  and  some  others  drew  up  a  declaration  of  their  Christian 
faith,  "  to  go  forth  in  the  name  of  the  people  called  Qua- 
kers, for  the  clearing  of  truth  and  Friends  from  those  false 
reports." 

In  1675,  he  wrote  and  pubHshed  "  A  Testimony  of  what 
we  believe  of  Christ,  before  he  was  manifest  in  the  flesh, 
and  of  his  birth  and  preaching,  and  what  he  saith  he  is 
himself:  as  also  of  his  suffering,  death,  resurrection  and 
ascension  ;  both  as  he  was  God  and  as  he  was  man." 


XX 


PREFACE. 


In  1682,  being  imprisoned  in  Worcester  jail,  he  wrote  a 
treatise  entitled  "  Something  in  answer  to  all  such  as  falsely 
say  the  Quakers  are  no  Christians  which  contains  a  con- 
fession oftheir  faith  on  several  of  the  fundamental  doctrines 
of  the  Christian  religion. 

In  the  year  1673,  Robert  Barclay  published  "  A  Ca- 
techism and  Confession  of  Faith,  approved  of  and  agreed 
unto,  by  the  general  assembly  of  the  patriarchs,  prophets 
and  apostles,  Christ  himself  [being]  chief  speaker  in  and 
among  them  ;  which  containeth  a  true  and  faithful  account 
of  the  principles  and  doctrines  which  are  most  surely  be- 
heved  by  the  churches  of  Christ  in  Great  Britain  and  Ire- 
land, who  are  reproachfully  called  by  the  name  of  Qua- 
kers," &;c.  The  Confession  of  Faith  consists  oftwenty -three 
articles.  It  has  been  reprinted  many  times,  both  in  English 
and  Latin,  by  direction  of  the  Society. 

In  giving  a  sketch  of  the  principal  confessions  of  faith 
issued  by  Friends,  I  must  not  omit  to  notice  Barclay's  cele- 
brated Apology.  No  other  work  has  been  so  repeatedly 
sanctioned  by  the  Society,  both  in  England  and  America, 
or  is  entitled  to  higher  authority  as  an  exposition  of  their 
peculiar  tenets.  It  was  first  printed  in  Latin  in  1675,  and 
subsequently  translated  and  reprinted  in  English,  French, 
German,  Low  Dutch,  Danish,  and  parts  of  it  in  Arabic.  In 
1705,  it  had  reached  the  fifth  edition,  and  at  the  present 
time  has  passed  through  more  than  twelve  editions  in  our 
own  tongue.  The  Society  has  been  at  considerable  pains 
and  expense  in  distributing  this  work  in  various  parts  of 
the  world  ;  and  since  the  period  it  was  first  published,  it  has 
always  been  held  to  be  of  the  highest  authority,  both  among 
ancient  and  modern  Friends,  as  a  standard  doctrinal  trea- 
tise. The  following  extract  from  William  Penn's  preface  to 
Robert  Barclay's  works,  will  show  in  what  esteem  he  held 
the  Apology. 

"  I  am  now  come  to  his  elaborate  Apology,  published  in 
1675,  entitled,  '  An  Apology  for  the  true  Christian  Divin- 
ity, as  the  same  is  held  forth  and  preached  by  the  people 
called  in  scorn  Quakers,  &c.  dedicated  to  King  Charles  the 
Second.'  It  was  the  most  comprehensive  of  all  his  pieces, 
published  in  Latin,  Dutch  and  Enghsh,  and  at  least  twice 
printed  in  our  own  tongue.  It  came  out  at  the  close  of 
a  long  and  sharp  engagement  between  us,  of  this  kingdom, 
and  a  confederacy  of  adversaries  of  almost  all  persuasions.  It 


PREFACE. 


xxi 


was  his  happiness  both  to  live  in  a  more  retired  corner,  and 
to  enjoy  at  that  time,  a  space  of  quiet  above  his  brethren : 
which,  with  the  consideration  of  their  three  or  four  years' 
toil,  and  a  sense  of  service  in  himself,  put  him  upon  under- 
taking and  publishing  this  discourse,  as  an  essay  towards  the 
prevention  of  future  controversy.  It  first  lays  down,  our 
avowed  principles  of  belief  and  practice^  distinguished  from 
what  our  enemies  are  pleased  to  say  in  our  names,  who,  by 
making  us  erroneous,  give  themselves  the  easier  task  to  con- 
fute us  ;  and  then  triumph.  After  he  has  stated  our  princi- 
ples, he  has  put  the  objections  which  he  had  collected  out 
of  our  adversaries' books,  or  that  he  did  apprehend  might 
be  made,  to  those  principles,  and  answers  them  :  and  lastly 
cites  divers  authors,  both  ancient  and  modern,  especially 
some  of  the  primitive  ages,  for  further  illustration,  and  con- 
firmation of  mr  said  belief  and  practice,'''' 

This  tribute  to  the  excellence  of  the  work,  is  confirmed 
by  George  Whitehead,  Patrick  Livingston,  Alexander  Sea- 
ton,  Benjamin  Antrobus,  Francis  Stamper,  John  Vaughton 
and  John  Field.  In  his  testimony  to  the  worthy  memory 
of  Robert  Barclay,  William  Penn  says  : — 

"  He  was  much  exercised  in  controversy,  from  the  many 
contradictions  that  fell  upon  the  truth,  and  upon  him  for  its 
sake,  in  his  own  country  chiefly,  in  which  he  ever  acquit- 
ted himself  with  honour  to  the  truth  ;  particularly  by  his 
Apology  for  the  Christian  divinity  professed  by  the  people 
called  Quakers,  which  contains  a  collection  of  our  princi- 
ples, our  enemies'  objections,  and  our  answers,  augmented 
and  illustrated,  closely  and  amply,  with  many  authorities 
for  confirmation.  Also  his  book  of  church  government,  dis- 
tinguishing between  tyranny  and  anarchy,  imposition  and 
lawlessness,  occasioned  by  the  scruples  of  some,  and  parti- 
ahties  of  others,  that  had  a  tendency  to  a  division  among  us: 
They  are  standing  books  of  sound  judgment,  and  good  service 
to  the  truth  and  church  of  God.  Nor  must  his  Scripture  Ca- 
techism be  forgotten,  in  that  it  opens  the  mind  of  truth, 
upon  points  of  doctrine,  in  the  words  of  the  Holy  Ghost; 
excluding  all  human  glosses  or  interpretation  ;  which  is  an 
easy,  safe,  and  peaceable  method,  the  tendency  of  it  being 
to  silence,  and  commend  the  curiosity  of  man  to  the  text, 
WHICH  ALL  OWN  ;  and  there  leave  controversy,  as  the  best 
method  to  unity  and  peace,  next  that  of  the  spirit  it- 
self." 


PREFACE. 


George  Fox  and  Andrew  Jaffraj,  have  also  expressed 
opinions  relative  to  Barclay's  works,  coincident  with  those 
above  quoted. 

In  1668,  the  well  known  controversy  took  place  between 
William  Penn,  George  Whitehead,  and  Thomas  Vincent, 
a  Presbyterian  minister ;  which  led  to  the  publication  of 
the  "  Sandy  Foundation  Shaken"  by  Penn,  and  Whitehead's 
work,  entitled  "The  Divinity  of  Christ,  and  Unity  of  the 
Three  that  bear  record  in  Heaven,  with  the  blessed  end 
and  effects  of  Christ's  appearance,  coming  in  the  flesh,  suf- 
fering and  sacrifice  for  sinners  ;  confessed  and  vindicated 
by  his  followers,  called  Quakers."  The  prefatory  epistle 
to  this  work,  contains  a  declaration  of  faith  on  behalf  of  the 
Society  of  Friends.    It  was  printed  in  1669. 

In  the  year  1691,  George  Wliitehead  wrote  a  short  trea- 
tise, entitled  "  Antichrist  in  flesh  unmasked,  and  the  Qua- 
kers' Christianity  vindicated,  &c."  in  which  he  gives  a  con- 
fession of  faith  in  behalf  of  the  Society.  He  thus  introduces 
it : — "  To  conclude  in  general  against  your  false  charges, 
and  manifold  abuses  and  calumnies,  contained  in  your  said 
book,  and  to  anticipate  further  objections  on  the  matters 
herein.  We  sincerely  profess  and  declare  in  the  sight  of 
God  and  men,  &:c," 

Francis  Bugg  having  apostatized  from  the  faith,  and  be- 
come a  bitter  enemy  to  the  Society  of  Friends,  used  great 
exertions,  by  false  and  malicious  accusations,  to  vilify  their 
character  and  hold  them  up  to  public  censure,  as  deniers 
of  the  Christian  religion.  George  Whitehead  was  particu- 
larly the  object  of  his  abuse ;  and  in  his  own  defence,  as 
well  as  for  the  reputation  of  the  Society  of  which  he  was 
an  honourable  member,  he  found  it  his  duty  several  times 
to  reply  to  Bugg's  pamphlets.  One  of  these  replies,  entit- 
led "  Innocency  triumphant  over  the  insolency  and  outrage 
of  a  Self-condemned  Apostate,"  contains  a  declaration  of 
the  Christian  doctrines  of  Friends,  which  he  thus  commen- 
ces : — "  Our  Christian  testimony  re-assumed  in  the  afiirma- 
tive:  To  all  Christian,  sober,  impartial,  and  judicious  peo- 
ple, to  whom  these  presents  shall  come,  salutation  in  the 
love  and  good  will  of  the  only  true  God,  and  his  dear  Son 
Jesus  Christ,  whom  he  hath  sent.  To  prevent  mistake, 
and  remove  misrepresentation,  in  the  matters  following, 
these  are  sincerely  to  testify  and  declare,  that  we  sincerely 
own,  profess,  and  confess,  &c.  <!i:c." 


PREFACE, 


XXlil 


In  the  fifth  month  1674,  Charles  Marshall  wrote  an  essay 
entitled  "  A  Warning  to  Opposers,  (Szc.""  in  which,  after 
speaking  of  the  unrighteous  means  made  use  of  by  the  hea- 
then formerly,  to  render  the  primitive  Christians  odious, 
and  to  justify  the  cruelties  inflicted  on  them,  he  says,  "  So 
hath  there  been  an  endeavour  in  our  day  to  misrepresent 
the  servants  and  people  of  the  Lord,  as  denyers  of  salvation 
by  Jesus  Christ,  making  his  birth  in  Bethlehem  of  Judea, 
his  travails,  sufferings,  blood,  death,  resurrection,  and  as- 
cension, of  no  value ;  denyers  of  the  scriptures  of  truth ; 
and  instead  thereof,  preaching  up  salvation  by  meritorious 
vs'orks  of  our  own  ;  and,  in  short,  representing  us  as  ene- 
mies to  Christianity  :  concerning  which  charges,  and  every 
particular  of  them,  full,  clear,  and  demonstrative  answers 
have  been  and  are  given,  unto  which  I  refer  all  unsatisfied 
persons.  That  which  lies  on  my  spirit  at  this  time,  is  to 
declare,  in  the  presence,  name,  and  power  of  the  everlast- 
ing God,  that  these  things  spoken  and  written  of  us,  are  as 
false  as  the  accusations  of  the  Pharisees  concerning  Christ 
Jesus,  and  as  false  as  the  accusations  of  the  Jews  concern- 
ing the  apostles."  Works,  p.  129^  To  confirm  this  asser- 
tion, he  gives  forth,  in  the  name  of  the  Society,  a  declara- 
tion of  their  faith  ;  the  first  article  of  which  reads  thus  : — 
For,  first,  we  declare  to  all  nations,  tongues,  and  languages, 
that  we  believe  in  the  one,  holy,  everlasting  God.'' 

The  next  declaration  of  faith  I  shall  notice,  is  contained 
in  a  treatise,  written  in  the  year  1G88  by  John  Burnyeat 
and  John  Watson,  entitled  "  The  Holy  Truth  and  its  Pro- 
fessors defended,  &:c."  in  answer  to  a  letter  written  by  L. 
Walton,  who  exhibited  many  false  accusations  against  the 
Society,  hi  replying  to  these  calumnies,  they  say,  "  And 
as  for  our  faith  and  principles,  they  have  been  published 
to  the  world  both  by  words  and  writing,  they  have  not  been 
hid  in  a  corner  ;  so  that  any  that  had  a  mind  to  concern 
themselves  against  us,  and  yet  as  wise  men,  would  not  judge 
without  an  understanding,  lest,  like  thee,  they  should  speak 
evil  of  the  things  they  did  not  understand,  might  easily  be 
informed  what  our  principles  are."  They  then  give  a  sum- 
mary of  the  faith  of  Friends  on  several  points  of  Christian 
doctrine. 

In  the  year  1689,  soon  after  Wilham  and  Mary  came  to 
the  throne  of  Great  Britain,  a  bill  was  introduced  into  par- 
liament, for  the  rehef  of  the  Protestant  subjects  of  the  realm, 


xxiv 


PREFACE. 


from  various  penalties  to  which  they  had  been  liable  on  ac- 
count of  their  religion.  This  bill,  which  eventually  became 
a  law,  and  is  known  as  "  The  Toleration  Act,"  required, 
that  such  as  availed  themselves  of  its  provisions,  should 
subscribe  a  declaration  of  their  belief  in  certain  fundamen- 
tal principles  of  the  Christian  religion.  The  form  of  the 
declaration,  drawn  up  by  a  committee  of  Parliament,  not 
being  agreeable  to  Friends,  George  Whitehead  and  others, 
on  behalf  of  the  Society,  framed  a  substitute,  which  was 
presented  to  the  Committee,  and  adopted.  It  commences 
thus  : — "  1  profess  faith  in  God,  the  Father,  &c." 

In  the  same  year  a  pamphlet  was  pubhshed,  entitled 
"  The  Christianity  of  the  people  commonly  called  Quakers 
asserted,  against  the  unjust  charge  of  their  being  no  Chris- 
tians." This  pamphlet  contains  a  declaration  of  the  doc- 
trines of  the  Society,  relative  to  the  Three  that  bear  record 
in  heaven,  the  divinity  and  offices  of  Jesus  Christ,  justifica- 
tion through  him,  and  the  divine  authority  of  the  holy  Scrip- 
tures. 

The  controversy  which  arose  out  of  the  apostacy  of 
George  Keith,  and  the  (alse  charges  which  he  made  against 
Friends,  called  forth  several  declarations  of  faith  on  the 
part  of  the  Society.  One  of  these  is  worthy  of  particular 
notice.  It  was  issued  in  the  year  1693,  and  may  be  found 
in  the  second  volume  of  SewelFs  History,  page  499.  Sewell 
thus  notices  it : — "  And  since  he  (George  Keith)  had  con- 
tradicted that,  which  formerly  he  had  asserted  and  defend- 
ed in  good  earnest,  and  charged  the  Quakers  with  a  belief 
which  they  never  owned  to  be  theirs,  they  found  themselves 
obliged  publicly  to  set  forth  their  faith  anew  in  print,  which 
they  had  often  before  asserted  both  in  words  and  in  writing  ; 
thereby  to  manifest  that  their  belief  was  really  orthodox, 
and  agreeable  with  holy  scripture.'-  It  is  signed  by  eight 
Friends*  on  behalf  of  the  Society. 

Francis  Bugg  having  charged  the  Society  with  being  So- 
cinians,  and  denying  the  divinity  of  Jesus  Christ  and  the 
authenticity  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  &;c.  a  confession  of 
faith  signed  by  thirty-two*'  persons,  showing  that  Friends, 
ever  since  they  were  a  people,  have  always  sincerely  be- 
lieved in  these  doctrines,  was  presented  to  Parliament  in 
the  same  year. 

*  The  names  of  the  Friends  who  signed  these  confessions  of  faith,  will 
be  found  in  the  second  section  of  the  following  work. 


TREFACE. 


XXV 


In  1693,  William  Chandler,  Alexander  Pyott,  and  Joseph 
Hodges,  published  a  work  entitled  "  A  Brief  Apology  in  be- 
half of  the  people  in  derision  called  Quakers which  con- 
tains a  full  and  clear  declaration  of  faith  on  behalf  of  the 
Society. 

John  Tomkins,  in  the  preface  to  his  Harmony  of  the 
Old  and  New  Testament,"  printed  in  1694,  has  given  a 
comprehensive  and  explicit  declaration  of  the  doctrines  of 
the  religious  Society  of  Friends. 

In  his  "  Brief  Concordance  of  the  names  and  attributes 
with  sundry  texts,  relating  to  our  blessed  Lord  and  Saviour 
Jesus  Christ,"'  published  in  1697,  he  has  inserted  a  parti- 
cular confession  of  our  christian  belief  concerning  Him, 
both  as  manifested  in  the  flesh,  and  now  come  the  second 
time,  in  Spirit. 

A  scurrilous  and  abusive  pamphlet,  under  a  fictitious 
name,  having  been  published  against  William  Penn,  and 
the  Society  of  Friends  at  large,  Benjamin  Coole  wrote  a 
refutation  of  it,  entitled  "  The  Quakers  cleared  from  being 
Apostates,  &c."  published  in  1696.  In  this  work,  the 
author  has  inserted  a  confession  of  faith  on  behalf  of  the 
Society,  beginning  with  these  words,  viz.  "  We  believe  in 
.One  God,  the  Father  Almighty,"  <Szc.  &c. 

In  the  year  1699,  Richard  Ashby,  John  Fiddeman,  and 
John  Cade,  replying  to  several  accusations  brought  against 
the  Society,  published  a  declaration  of  the  Christian  faith 
of  Friends,  in  order  to  show  its  conformity  to  the  testi- 
mony of  the  Sacred  Records. 

Thomas  Story,  in  his  Journal,  page  173,  has  inserted  a 
declaration  of  the  faith  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  given 
forth  by  himself,  Aaron.  Atkinson  and  Roger  Gill,  while 
travelling  together  on  rehgious  service  in  America,  in  the 
year  1699. 

Daniel  Phillips,  in  his  "  Occasional  Defence  of  the  Prin- 
ciples and  practices  of  the  people  called  Quakers,"  ^c. 
published  in  1703,  has  inserted  a  confession  of  the  faith  ot 
the  Society,  in  the  fundamental  doctrines  of  the  Christian 
relifi^ion.    See  p.  249. 

In  the  year  1704,  John  Banks  wrote  "  A  true  testimony 
concerning  his  faith  in  Christ ;"  which  he  also  declares  to 
be  the  faith  of  the  primitive  Friends  whom  he  had  known 
and  conversed  with  in  his  early  hfe.  See  p.  295  of  his 
works. 

3 


XXVI 


PREFACE. 


Richard  Claridge,  in  his  "  Essay  on  the  doctrine  of 
Christ^s  Satisfaction,"  printed  in  the  year  1726,  makes  a 
very  full  declaration  of  the  behef  of  the  Society  of  Friends 
in  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ  and  his  offices.  See 
his  works,  p.  441. 

Samuel  Fuller,  in  his  "  Serious  Reply,"  published  in 
1728,  gives  a  copy  of  an  ample  confession  of  faith,  issued 
by  Thomas  Beaven,  on  behalf  of  the  Society  of  Friends. 
See  p.  144. 

In  the  year  1 731 ,  the  Men's  Meeting  of  Bristol,  published 
a  declaration  of  the  ancient  principles  and  faith  of  the  So- 
ciety of  Friends,  entitled  "  The  Primitive  Testimony  of  the 
people  called  Quakers,  &:c." 

I  apprehend  that  the  list  which  is  here  exhibited,  though 
it  does  not  embrace  the  whole,  will  fully  warrant  the  as- 
sertion, that  no  body  of  rehgious  professors  have  published 
more  ample,  explicit,  or  numerous  declarations  of  their 
belief,  than  the  Society  of  Friends.  They  were  peculiarly 
obnoxious  to  misrepresentation  ;  they  were  publicly  and 
privately  slandered,  and  every  means  resorted  to  by  their 
enemies,  in  order  to  render  them  odious  to  the  public. 
From  the  feelings  and  manners  of  the  age  in  which  they 
appeared,  few  modes  of  effecting  this  ungenerous  purpose 
promised  greater  success,  than  representing  them  as  no 
Christians.  Hence  this  charge  was  again  and  again  re- 
newed in  different  forms  and  on  various  grounds,  and 
Friends  were  obliged  to  reiterate  as  frequently  their  so- 
lemn declarations  of  the  scriptural  soundness  and  consist- 
ency of  their  doctrines.  This  may  account  for  their  being 
so  numerous,  as  well  as  for  the  variety  of  subjects  embraced 
in  them. 

Joseph  Wyeth,  in  his  "  Switch  for  the  Snake,"  after 
reciting  the  faith  of  the  Society  in  the  Three  that  bear  re- 
cord in  heaven,  and  the  divinity  and  manhood  of  our  bless- 
ed Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  makes  these  pertinent 
observations  : — "  Reader,  these,  and  all  other  testimonies 
recorded  in  Holy  Writ,  testifying  to  the  manhood  as  well 
as  the  divinity  of  Jesus  Christ,  we  do,  and  always  did,  sin- 
cerely own ;  so  that  should  our  books,  which  treat  directly 
on  this  subject,  and  abundantly  more  largely  and  particu- 
larly than  here  it  can  be,  be  collected,  they  would  make 
many  volumes.  Yet  such  hath  been,  and  is,  the  inveterate 
malice  of  our  enemies,  that  our  writings  (no  more  than 


PKEFACE. 


xxvii 


our  words)  must  not  mean  what  we  so  often  and  solemn- 
ly have  declared  we  do  mean  by  them  ;  but  what  our  ad- 
versaries will  have  them  to  mean ;  that  so  they  may  not 
seem  to  want  proofs  for  these  their  false  and  envious  char- 
ges. What  now  remains  for  us  to  do,  but  still  to  persevere 
in  our  true  and  scriptural  belief,  and  to  repeat  our  testimo- 
nies of  it,  to  the  envious  objections  of  enemies,  and  for 
the  satisfaction  of  the  sober  inquirer?"  Page  192. 

I  am  aware  that  many  of  these  testimonies  appear  only 
as  the  evidence  of  an  individual,  relative  to  the  belief  of  a 
people  with  whom  he  was  in  religious  fellowship.  Ad- 
mitting this  to  be  the  fact — still  they  are  so  numerous  ;  are 
written  at  periods  so  diverse,  and  by  persons  living  so  dis- 
tant from  each  other ;  and  yet  exhibit  in  themselves  so 
perfect  a  coincidence  and  harmony  on  every  essential  arti- 
cle of  the  Christian  religion,  that  as  a  whole  they  present 
a  weight  of  evidence  and  authority  in  support  of  the  genu- 
ine behef  of  the  Society,  which  must  be  considered  final 
and  prescriptive. 

There  is  however  another  circumstance,  which  adds 
greatly  to  their  authority,  and  justly  entitles  many  of  them 
to  the  character  of  Society  acts — declarations,  sanctioned 
officially  by  the  proper  officers  of  the  church.  I  allude  to 
the  practice  of  submitting  manuscripts  intended  for  pub- 
lication, to  the  inspection  of  the  morning  meeting,  or  to 
the  meetmg  for  sufleiiii^s,  iu  London,  which  appears  to 
have  been  the  usage  amongst  Friends  from  a  very  early 
period. 

I  am  unable  at  present  to  fix  the  exact  date  at  which 
these  meetings  were  established  ;  but  I  find,  by  reference  to 
the  works  of  Robert  Barclay,  that  the  morning  meeting 
existed  prior  to  the  year  1676,  as  it  appears  that  his  "  An- 
archy of  the  Ranters"  was  submitted  to  it  for  examination 
and  there  fully  approved.  It  is  also  evident  that  it  was 
customary  for  Friends,  intending  to  publish  any  works  re- 
lative to  the  principles  and  doctrines  of  the  Society,  to  lay 
the  manuscripts  before  that  meeting  for  its  judgment.  For 
in  a  testimony  given  forth  in  the  year  1679,  against  Wil- 
liam Rogers,  signed  by  thirty-three*  Friends,  they  say — 

*  The  names  of  these  Friends  were  :  Henry  Jackson,  Joseph  Batt, 
Thomas  Holmes,  John  Burnyeat,  Francis  Moore,  Stephen  Crisp,  Tho- 
mas Jany,  Richard  Vickris,  William  Gibson,  Ambrose  Rigge,  Richard 
Snead,  James  Mammeck,  Thomas  Atkins,  John  BlakeUng,  Charles 


xxviii 


PREFACE. 


"  Forasmuch  as  William  Rogers,  of  Bristol,  hath  lately 
written  a  book  in  manuscript,  against  a  book  of  Robert 
Barclay's,  entitled  the  Anarchy  of  the  Ranters,  and  ap- 
proved at  the  second  day's  meeting  in  London,  and  hath 
dispersed  his  manuscript  in  several  parts  of  this  nation, 
without  so  much  as  first  giving,  either  to  the  said  Robert 
Barclay  in  particular,  on  the  second  day's  meeting  in  ge- 
neral, an  account  of  his  scruples  or  dissatisfaction  concern- 
ing the  said  book  of  Robert  Barclay's  ;  contrary  to  ail  rules 
of  brotherly  love,  Christian  fellowship,  gospel  order ^  and 
exemplary  practice  of  the  church  of  Christ,  to  the  defama- 
tion of  the  said  Robert  Barclay,  the  great  derogation 
from  the  Christian  authority  of  the  said  meetings  and 
the  general  disservice  of  truth,  &c."  William  Rogers 
condemned  his  conduct  in  not  submitting  his  manuscript  to 
the  judgment  of  the  morning  meeting  before  he  gave  it 
publicity,*  but  afterwards  he  joined  with  Wilkinson  and 
Story,  in  their  separation  from  Friends,  and  wrote  several 
very  abusive  treatises  against  the  Society.  One  of  these, 
miscalled  "  The  Christian  Quaker,  distinguished  from  the 
Apostate  and  Innovator,"  was  answered  by  Thomas  Ell- 
w^ood,  in  a  work  entitled  "  An  Antidote  against  the  infec- 
tion of  William  Rogers'  book,  &;c."  published  in  1682,  in 
which  Thomas  EUwood  thus  speaks  of  the  morning 
meeting  : 

*'  Thou  takeet  occasion  iKf  iiicutiun  the  second  day's 
weekly  meeting  in  London,  wherein,  amongst  other  ser- 
vices, such  books  as  are  written  for  the  service  of  truth,  are 
usually  read  over,  before  they  are  committed  to  the  press ; 
which  thou  confessest  to  be  a  necessary  service,  yet  be- 
cause thou  wouldst  find  fault  with  every  thing,  thou  quar- 
relest  with  this  also."    Page  127. 

Joseph  Wyeth,  in  his  supplement  to  the  life  of  Thomas 
Ellwood,  alluding  to  an  epistle  which  he  wrote  in  the  year 
1694,  on  the  occasion  of  George  Keith's  separation  from 
the  Society,  says — "When  our  friend  Thomas  Ellwood 
had  written  this  epistle,  he  went  up  to  London  with  it,  and 
presented  it  to  the  second  day's  morning  meeting,  where 

HarfFord,  John  Furly,  sen.  Benjamin  Furly,  Francis  Lea,  Thomas  Ell- 
wood, William  Welch,  Stephen  Smith,  Thomas  Bur,  Thomas  Robinson, 
George  Keith,  John  Buy,  Thomas  Hill,  Gawen  Lowry,  Charles  Mar- 
shall, John  Osgood,  William  Penn,  James  Holyday,  James  Claypoole, 
William  Shewen. 


PREFACE. 


XXIX 


such  books  and  writings  of  Friends,  as  are  intended  for  the 
press,  used  to  be  read  and  considered,  &c." 

The  following  rules  of  discipline  will  further  illustrate 
the  subject,  viz. — 

"  The  ancient  and  approved  practice  of  our  religious 
Society,  respecting  the  revision  of  manuscripts  by  the 
second  day's  morning  meeting,  and  the  minutes  on  that 
subject,  having  been  considered,  it  is  the  judgment  of  this 
meeting  that  the  said  practice  be  invariably  observed,  viz. 
that  no  books  concerning  the  principles  of  Friends,  be 
printed,  without  being  carefully  read,  and  corrected  if 
necessary,  by  the  morning  meeting  in  London. 

"  That  the  meeting  for  sufferings  take  the  care  of  in- 
specting, ordering,  regulating  the  press,  and  printing  of 
books  ;  and  in  whatever  matter  relating  to  the  printing  of 
books,  the  country  Friends  find  themselves  aggrieved,  that 
they  write  to  the  said  meeting,  who  are  to  redress  the 
same,  and  that  no  books  be  reprinted  without  the  said 
meeting's  direction."  1679-1672. 

From  these  quotations  it  is  evident  that  the  early  prac- 
tice and  order  of  the  Society  were,  that  doctrinal  treatises 
should  be  examined  and  approved  before  they  were  pubr 
lished.  Inasmuch,  therefore,  as  confessions  of  faith,  above 
all  other  writings,  immediately  interested  the  whole  body 
of  Friends,  it  is  reasonable  and  fair  to  conclude  that  they, 
in  an  especial  manner,  would  be  submitted  to  the  inspec- 
tion of  the  proper  meetings  designated  for  that  purpose. 
Local  circumstances  might  sometimes  render  a  compHance 
with  the  rule  difficult  or  impracticable  ;  but  from  the  high 
standing  and  character  of  the  individuals  whose  names  are 
associated  with  those  I  have  selected,  we  may  safely  infer 
that  they  would  not  infringe  on  the  established  order  of 
the  discipline :  the  conclusion  is  therefore  irresistible,  that 
these  declarations  ought  to  be  received  as  official  acts  of 
the  Society. 

It  will  perhaps  be  objected  that,  numerous  as  these  con- 
fessions of  faith  are,  the  Society  of  Friends  never  required 
those  who  applied  for  membership,  to  subscribe  any  writ- 
ten form  of  faith.  I  admit  that  this  is  the  case ;  and  the 
same  assertion  will  hold  good  as  regards  every  denomina- 
tion of  Christians  with  which  1  am  acquainted.  The  mere 
act  of  underwriting  any  form  of  faith,  however  perfect  in 
itself,  could  make  no  man  a  behever  in  the  doctrines  it 

3* 


XXX 


PREFACE. 


contained,  and  consequently  could  be  of  little  advantage. 
But  while  Friends  did  not  demand  such  a  preliminary  to 
admission  within  their  communion,  they  most  certainly  did 
then,  and  now  do,  require  that  those  who  are  received 
amongst  them,  should  profess  and  believe  in  all  the  funda- 
mental doctrines  of  the  Christian  faith.  They  did  not  rest 
satisfied  with  even  the  most  solemn  and  sincere  confessions 
of  their  belief  as  a  Society  collectively,  but  they  took  care 
that  their  members  individually^  should  not  contravene  those 
public  declarations,  by  professing  notions  repugnant  there- 
to ;  and  where  any  did  thus  openly  depart  from  the  belief 
of  the  Christian  rehgion,  and  the  acknowledged  faith  of 
the  body,  they  testified  against  such,  and  separated  them 
from  their  fellowship  and  communion.  For  proof  of  this 
assertion,  1  appeal  to  the  case  of  Jeffery  Bullock,  who 
was  disowned  from  the  Society  about  the  year  1676,  for 
denymg  that  Jesus  Christ,  who  was  crucified  at  Jerusalem, 
was  the  Saviour  and  Judge  of  the  world;  and  also  for 
rejecting  the  efficacy  of  his  propitiatory  sacrifice  on  the 
cross,  for  the  remission  of  sins  past.  Some  further  par- 
ticulars relative  to  this  case,  will  be  found  in  the  extracts 
from  Giles  Barnardiston's  pamphlet,  in  the  following  pages. 
Another  decisive  proof  of  the  correctness  of  the  position 
I  have  made,  is  to  be  found  in  the  rule  of  discipline  adopted 
in  1694,  which  expressly  directs  that  persons  who  are 
unsound  in  doctrine,  shail  be  dealt  with,  in  order  "  that 
the  truth,  church,  or  body  of  Christ,  may  not  suflfer  by  any 
particular  pretended  member  that  is  so  corrupt." 

This  regulation  is  still  in  force  amongst  our  brethren  in 
Great  Britain  ;  and  rules  or  recommendations  of  a  similar 
character,  relating  to  several  of  the  important  articles  of 
christian  faith,  are  to  be  found  in  the  discipline  of  every 
yearly  meeting  with  which  1  am  acquainted.  Numerous 
instances  of  disownment,  for  unsoundness  in  doctrine,  have 
occurred,  both  in  England  and  America,  since  the  days  of 
Jeffery  Bullock  ;  and  within  a  few  years  there  have  been 
a  considerable  number  of  persons  separated  from  the 
Society,  within  the  limits  of  New  York  yearly  meeting, 
for  promulgating  opinions  contrary  to  those  christian  doc- 
trines which  Friends  have  always  sincerely  believed. 

I  apprehend  that  nothing  more  can  be  required  to  con- 
vince any  intelhgent,  unprejudiced  mind,  that  the  Society 
of  Friends  has  always  recognized  a  belief  in  the  doctrines 


PREFACE. 


xxxi 


of  the  Christian  rehgion,  as  a  necessary  qualification  for 
religious  membership ;  and  that  where  any  have  openly 
departed  from  the  faith,  they  have  been  separated  from 
the  fellowship  of  the  body.  The  propriety  and  even  neces- 
sity of  this  course,  cannot  be  more  fully  and  clearly  illus- 
trated than  by  the  following  extracts  from  the  "  Anarchy 
of  the  Ranters,"  by  Robert  Barclay ;  a  %vork  which  w^as 
examined  and  approved  by  the  Society  in  the  year  1676, 
and  has  been  reprinted  many  times  since  under  its  autho- 
rity and  direction.  It  may  therefore  be  considered  as  con- 
veying the  long  established  and  acknowledged  sentiments 
of  Friends  on  the  subject  under  discussion. 

"  Now  I  say,  we  being  gathered  together  into  the  belief 
of  certain  principles  and  doctrines,  without  any  constraint 
or  worldly  respect,  but  by  the  mere  force  of  truth  upon  our 
understanding,  and  its  power  and  influence  upon  our  hearts ; 
these  principles  and  doctrines,  and  the  practices  necessa- 
rily depending  upon  them  are,  as  it  were,  the  terms  that 
have  drawn  us  together,  and  the  bond^  by  which  we  be- 
came centred  into  one  body  and  fellowship,  and  distinguish- 
ed from  others.  Now  if  any  one,  or  more,  so  engaged  with 
us,  should  arise  to  teach  any  other  doctrine  or  doctrines, 
contrary  to  these  which  were  the  ground  of  our  being  one; 
who  can  deny,  but  the  body  hath  power  in  such  a  case  to 
declare,  This  is  not  according  to  the  truth  we  profess  ;  and 
therefore  we  pronounce  such  and  such  doctrines  to  be 
wrong,  with  which  we  cannot  have  unity,  nor  yet  any 
more  spiritual  fellowship  with  those  that  hold  them  ?  And 
so  such  cut  themselves  off  from  being  members,  by  dissolv- 
ing the  very  bond  by  which  they  were  linked  to  the  body. 

"  Now^  this  cannot  be  accounted  tyranny  and  oppression^ 
no  more  than  in  a  civil  society,  if  one  of  the  society  shall 
contradict  one  or  more  of  the  fundamental  articles,  upon 
which  the  society  was  contracted,  it  can  be  reckoned  a 
breach  or  iniquity  in  the  whole  society  to  declare,  that 
such  contradictors  have  done  wrong,  and  forfeited  their 
right  in  that  society;  in  case,  by  the  original  constitution, 

*  Yet  this  is  not  so  the  bond,  but  that  we  have  also  a  more  inward 
and  invisible,  to  wit,  the  life  of  righteousness,  whereby  we  also  have 
unity  with  the  upright  seed  in  all,  even  in  those,  whose  understandings 
are  not  yet  so  enlightened.  But  to  those  who  are  once  enlightened, 
this  is  as  an  outward  bond ;  and  if  they  suffer  themselves  to  be  dark- 
ened through  disobedience,  which  as  it  does  in  the  outward  bond,  so  it 
doth  in  the  inward. 


xxxii 


PREFACE. 


the  nature  of  the  contradiction  implies  such  a  forfeiture, 
as  usually  it  is ;  and  will  no  doubt  hold  in  rehgious  mat- 
ters. As  if  a  body  be  gathered  into  one  fellowship,  by 
the  belief  of  certain  principles,  he  that  comes  to  believe 
otherwise,  naturally  scattereth  himself;  for  that  the  cause 
that  gathered  him  is  taken  away :  and  so  those  that  abide 
constant  in  declaring  the  thing  to  be  so  as  it  is,  and  in 
looking  upon  him,  and  witnessing  of  him  to  others  (if  need 
be)  to  be  such,  as  he  has  made  himself,  do  him  no  injury. 
I  shall  make  the  supposition  in  the  general,  and  let  every 
people  make  the  apph cation  to  themselves,  abstracting 
from  us;  and  then  let  conscience  and  reason  in  every  im- 
partial reader  declare,  whether  or  not  it  doth  not  hold  ? 
Suppose  a  people  really  gathered  unto  the  belief  of  the 
true  and  certain  principles  of  the  gospel,  if  any  of  these 
people  shall  arise  and  contradict  any  of  those  fundamental 
truths,  whether  have  not  such  as  stand,  good  right  to  cast 
such  an  one  out  from  among  them,  and  to  pronounce 
positively,  this  is  contrary  to  the  truth  we  profess  and 
own ;  and  therefore  ought  to  be  rejected,  and  not 
received,  nor  yet  he  that  asserts  it  as  one  of  us  ?  And 
is  not  this  obligatory  upon  all  the  members,  seeing  all 
are  concerned  in  the  like  care  as  to  themselves,  to  hold 
the  right  and  shut  out  the  wrong?  I  cannot  tell,  if  any 
man  of  reason  can  well  deny  this:  however,  I  shall  prove 
it  next  from  the  testimony  of  the  Scripture."  Anarchy, 
p.  54. 

Again  on  page  58,  he  says — 

"  Were  such  a  principle  to  be  received  or  believed,  that 
in  the  Church  of  Christ  no  man  should  be  separated  from, 
no  man  condemned  or  excluded  the  fellowship  and  com- 
munion of  the  body,  for  his  judgment  or  opinion  in  matter 
of  faith,  then  what  blasphemies  so  horrid,  what  heresies 
so  damnable,  what  doctrines  of  devils,  but  might  harbour 
itself  in  the  Church  of  Christ?  What  need  then  of  sound 
doctrine,  if  no  doctrine  make  unsound?  What  need  of 
convincing  and  exhorting  gainsayers,  if  to  gainsay  be  no 
crime?  Where  should  the  unity  of  the  faith  be?  Were 
not  this  an  inlet  to  all  manner  of  abomination ;  and  to 
make  void  the  whole  tendency  of  Christ's  and  his  apostles' 
doctrine ;  and  render  the  gospel  of  none  effect ;  and  give 
a  liberty  to  the  unconstant  and  giddy  will  of  man  to  inno- 


PREFACE. 


xxxiii 


Vate,  alter  and  overturn  it  at  his  pleasure?  So  that  from 
all  that  is  above  mentioned,  we  do  safely  conclude,  that 
where  a  people  are  gathered  together  into  the  belief  of 
the  principles  and  doctrines  of  the  gospel  of  Christ,  if  any 
of  that  people  shall  go  from  their  principles,  and  assert 
things  false  and  contrary  to  what  they  have  already 
received ;  such  as  stand  and  abide  firm  in  the  faith,  have 
power,  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  after  they  have  used  chris- 
tian endeavours  to  convince  and  reclaim  them,  upon  their 
obstinacy,  to  separate  from  such,  and  to  exclude  them 
from  their  spiritual  fellowship  and  communion :  For 
otherwise,  if  this  be  denied,  farewell  to  all  Christianity, 
or  to  the  maintaining  of  any  sound  doctrine  in  the  Church 
of  Christ." 

In  order  to  invalidate  the  testimony  given  by  our  early 
Friends  in  support  of  the  christian  doctrines  of  the  Society, 
the  assertion  is  not  unfrequently  made,  that  the  founders 
of  the  sect,  when  they  commenced  their  religious  labours, 
entertained  opinions  very  different  from  those  which  they 
professed  after  a  lapse  of  thirty  years.  I  have  taken  par- 
ticular pains  to  examine  into  the  truth  of  this  allegation, 
and  so  far  as  my  researches  have  enabled  me  to  judge,  it  is 
entirely  unfounded.  The  alleged  difference  is  principally 
in  regard  to  the  doctrines  of  the  proper  divinity  of  our 
Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  his  propitiation,  and  the 
authority  of  the  holy  Scriptures.  Now  it  is  worthy  of 
particular  remark,  that  these  three  points  are  fully  confess- 
ed to  by  George  Fox,  in  the  very  commencement  of  his 
religious  experience,  as  may  be  seen  by  his  answer  to 
Nathaniel  Stevens,  and  other  passages  in  his  journal.  The 
sentiments  which  he  expresses  at  that  early  period  on  these 
interesting  subjects,  are  in  perfect  conformity  with  those 
which  he  held  to  the  close  of  his  life,  as  well  as  entirely  con- 
sonant with  the  uniform  testimony  borne  by  those  Friends 
who  wrote  during  the  first  thirty  or  forty  years  after  the 
rise  of  the  Society. 

Another  circumstance  that  deserves  attention,  is  the 
tenor  of  the  first  declarations  of  faith,  issued  by  Richard 
Farnsworth,  Edw^ard  Burrough,  and  George  Fox  the 
younger,  prior  to  the  year  1660,  and  only  about  ten  years 
after  George  Fox  commenced  his  public  ministry.  The 
doctrine  which  they  teach  is  the  same  as  that  inculcated  by 
Friends  at  the  close  of  the  seventeenth  century,  and  main- 


Xxxiv 


PREFACE. 


tained  by  the  faithful  members  of  the  Society  to  the  pre- 
sent day.  Many  of  the  extracts  given  in  the  following 
compilation,  are  from  works  written  within  thirty  years 
after  the  convincement  of  George  Fox,  and  consequently 
express  the  sentiments  which  were  held  by  the  first  Qua- 
kers ;  yet  they  exhibit  throughout,  a  remarkable  harmony 
with  those  which  were  penned  by  later  authors. 

The  charge  of  receding  from  the  principles  which  they  pro- 
fessed in  the  beginning,  was  frequently  brought  against  our 
worthy  predecessors  ;  but  they  invariably  answered  it  with 
the  most  positive  assertions,  as  well  as  with  conclusive  proof, 
that  they  had  ever  held,  and  as  constantly  maintained,  the 
same  doctrines.  It  was  particularly  the  case,  that  those 
who  became  dissatisfied  with  the  doctrines  or  discipline  of 
Friends,  and  separated  from  them  ;  in  order  to  conceal  their 
own  apostacy,  and  more  effectually  beguile  those  whom  they 
had  drawn  away  with  them,  charged  the  Society  with  hav- 
ing departed  from  its  original  principles,  and  renounced  its 
early  faith.  This  was  the  case  with  J.  Wilkinson,  J.  Story, 
Wm.  Rogers,  J.  Perot,  J.  Pennyman,  F.  Bugg,  and  G. 
Keith.  I  refer  the  reader  for  proof  of  this,  to  "  An  Epis- 
tle of  Caution  to  Friends,  to  take  heed  of  that  treacherous 
Spirit  that  is  entered  into  W.  R.  and  his  abettors,  ^c."  by 
C.  Taylor,  1681.  Also  to  W.  R.'s  book,  entitled  "  The 
Christian  Quaker,  distinguished  from  the  apostate  and  in- 
novator," and  Thomas  Ellwood's  reply  to  it. 

These  unchristian  calumnies  of  pretended  Friends,  were 
eagerly  caught  at  by  the  more  open  opposers  of  truth,  w^ho 
having  failed  in  their  attempts  to  prove  the  Society  no 
Christians  ;  and  finding  that  the  declarations  of  faith  issued 
by  Friends  were  really  consistent  with  the  holy  Scriptures 
and  the  christian  belief  of  other  societies,  echoed  these  un- 
just charges  to  screen  themselves  from  obvious  falsehood. 

The  declaration  of  faith  which  was  issued  by  Friends  in 
1693,  to  correct  the  falsehoods  circulated  by  Francis  Bugg, 
closes  with  this  energetic  language : — "  And  we  know  of 
no  other  doctrine  or  principles,  preached,  maintained,  or 
evtr  received  among  or  by  us^  since  we  were  a  people^  con- 
trary to  these  aforesaid.'''' 

John  Crook  speaks  thus  on  the  subject : — "  It  being  al- 
lowed by  some  late  adversaries,  that  we  are  more  sound 
in  the  fundamental  doctrines  of  the  Christian  faith  than 
they  thought  of ;  yet  they  persist  to  object  that  we  have 


PREFACE. 


XXXV 


altered  our  religion,  and  that  our  ancient  Friends  held 
grievous  errors,  I  am  therefore  willing,  in  the  eight}*-first 
year  of  my  age,  that  this  following  treatise  should  be  re- 
printed, that  they  may  see  what  myself  with  our  ancient 
Friends  held  in  the  year  1663." 

Joseph  Wyeth,  in  his  Primitive  Christianity  Revived, 
&c.  written  in  1698,  says,  "  The  method  1  have  herein 
taken  is  this ;  1  have,  from  the  year  1655  or  thereabout, 
brought  in  a  succession,  divers  testimonies  against  the  par- 
ticular charges,  which  do  at  once  show  that  what  we  now 
profess,  is  no  other  than  what  we  did.''^  "  For  it  hath  often 
been  the  practice  of  our  adversaries,  when  we  have 
brought  forth  our  true  testimonies^  to  say  our  representation 
was  Tzero."  Again,  "  Here  he  [F.  Bugg]  says,  '  The  late 
representations  of  Quakerism,  hath  given  it  quite  another 
turn  and  face  than  it  ever  had  before,'  if  he  had  added,  '  that 
he  knew  of,'  it  had  shown  some  modesty  ;  but  since  he  has 
shown  none,  1  will  tell  him,  he  is  dogmatically  false,  for 
our  principles  are  nozy,  no  other  than  what  they  were, 
when  we  w^ere  first  a  people,  for  truth  changes  not." 

To  the  charge  of  having  altered  their  principles,  Daniel 
Phillips,  in  his  "  Occasional  Defence  of  the  principles  and 
practices  of  the  people  called  Quakers,"  thus  replies  : — 
"  We  are  not  sensible  that  we  have  altered  any  one  prin- 
ciple of  our  faith  since  we  were  a  people,  but  are  the  same 
in  every  respect,  that  we  were  fifty  years  ago.  It  is  possi- 
ble some  expressions  which  our  adversaries  have  carped  at, 
are  more  fully  explained,  and  some  doctrines  of  our  faith, 
which  were  only  transiently  treated  on,  are,  since  we  have 
been  accused  of  denying  them,  more  amply  expounded. 
But  in  what  we  are  now  more  orthodox  than  our  primitive 
Friends  were,  we  are  ignorant :  they  were  sound,  and  so 
are  we,  in  the  Christian  faith."    Page  219. 

"We  are  persuaded  that  our  ancient  Friends  held  the 
same  doctrines,  and  preached  the  same  gospel  that  we  do, 
and  are  not  conscious  of  deviating  from  them  in  any  essen- 
tial, therefore  esteem  ourselves  in  duty  obliged  to  justify 
our  deceased  Friends,  and  defend  them  from  these  black 
charges  of  blasphemy,  <S:c.  wherewith  they  have  been  un- 
justly traduced  by  their  and  our  enemies."  Page  224.  

1702. 

1  have  quoted  but  few  of  the  authorities  which  might  be 
adduced  on  this  subject,  but  1  apprehend  they  will  be  suf- 


xxxvi 


PREFACE. 


ficient  to  satisfy  every  candid  inquirer,  that  the  Society  of 
Friends,  ever  since  they  have  been  a  people,  always  held, 
and  professed  to  the  world,  the  same  principles.  What 
these  principles  and  doctrines  are,  the  following  pages  will 
fully  show.  The  extracts  I  have  given,  exhibit  the  genuine 
doctrines  of  Quakerism,  as  now  believed  and  owned  by  the 
Society  and  all  its  faithful  members,  and  as  expressed  in 
the  language  of  the  earliest  writers.  In  making  the  selec- 
tions, I  have  honestly  endeavoured  to  take  those  which  ap- 
peared to  give  the  clearest  and  most  comprehensive  view 
of  the  author's  meaning,  and  especially,  such  as  were  put 
forth  to  the  world  for  the  very  purpose  of  asserting  their 
christian  belief. 

Another  means  employed  to  invalidate  the  doctrinal  es- 
says of  our  early  Friends,  was,  the  charge  of  contradicting 
each  other,  and  differing  among  themselves  on  essential 
points;  insinuations  which  are  occasionally  made  at  the  pre- 
sent day,  for  the  same  purpose.  But  a  candid  and  full  ex- 
amination of  their  writings,  with  due  regard  to  the  subjects 
under  discussion,  and  to  the  general  scope  of  the  authors, 
will  be  sufficient  to  convince  every  unprejudiced  reader,  that 
however  they  may  vary  in  the  modes  of  expression,  they 
were  remarkably  united  in  the  belief  of  the  great  fundamen- 
tal doctrines  of  Christianity.  There  were  among  them,  men 
of  different  degrees  of  religious  experience  and  knowledge 
— men  whose  opportunities  of  literary  instruction  varied 
greatly  with  their  circumstances  in  life,  and  who  wrote  un- 
der the  influence  of  diverse  measures  of  the  same  Holy 
Spirit ;  and  hence  we  might  reasonably  expect  considera- 
ble variety  in  style,  method  and  perspicuity.  Some  of  their 
writings  consist  principally  of  exhortations  to  holiness  ; 
others  took  up  the  pen  to  answer  the  false  accusations  of 
their  enemies,  or  to  expose  the  errors  which  had  crept  into 
professing  Christendom.  Some  seldom  meddled  with  doc- 
trinal subjects,  whilst  others  confined  themselves,  almost  ex- 
clusively, to  the  exposition  and  vindication  of  the  princi- 
ples of  Quakerism.  It  is  easy  to  perceive,  that  from  such 
sources  a  great  variety  of  matter  must  necessarily  flow;  and 
it  is  cause  of  admiration,  under  all  the  circumstances,  that 
there  should  be  so  much  harmony  as  does  actually  exist, 
rather  than  that  some  seeming  discrepancies  should  occa- 
sionally appear. 

It  will  probably  be  objected,  that  the  doctrine  of  the  im- 


PREFACE.  XXXVl'i 

mediate  and  sensible  influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  is  not 
made  the  subject  of  a  distinct  chapter  in  the  following  com- 
pilation. In  reply  to  this  it  may  be  observed,  that  this  es- 
sential article  of  faith  appears  to  be  properly  included  in 
the  section  appropriated  to  the  Divinity  and  offices  of 
our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  inasmuch  as  it  is  his 
peculiar  office,  to  shed  forth,  on  his  rational  creation,  the 
gift  of  his  grace.  In  the  extracts  on  this  subject,  care  has 
been  taken  to  give  a  view  of  the  sentiments  of  Friends,  in 
relation  both  to  his  outward  appearance  in  the  flesh,  and 
his  second  coming  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  without  sin  unto  sal- 
vation. The  Society  are  so  well  known  to  hold  this  as  a 
fundamental  principle,  and  their  belief  on  the  subject  is  so 
fully  and  largely  treated  of,  that  1  apprehend  it  is  scarcely 
probable  any  opponent,  however  prejudiced  or  uncharita- 
ble, will  charge  them  with  denying  it. 

The  collection  and  arrangement  of  the  following  extracts 
have  occupied  much  time,  and  been  attended  with  consid- 
erable labour;  but  should  they  happily  prove  a  means, un- 
der the  divine  blessing,  of  promoting  an  increase  in  fervent 
piety,  or  of  imparting  to  any  of  his  fellow  members  a  more 
intimate  and  correct  knowledge  of  the  doctrines  of  our 
religious  Society,  than  they  have  hitherto  possessed,  and  in- 
cite them  to  a  serious  and  candid  perusal  of  the  excellent  ' 
writings  of  our  early  Friends,  the  compiler  will  have  attain- 
ed his  highest  wishes  and  his  richest  reward. 

T.  EVANS. 

Philadelphia,  10th  Month,  1C27. 


4 


AN  EXPOSITION 


OF 

THE  FAITH 

OF  THE 

RELIGIOUS  SOCIETY  OF  FRIENDS 


Of  the  One  Only  True  God,  and  the  Three  that  hear  record 
in  Heaven, 

The  Society  of  Friends  have  uniformly  declared  their 
belief  in  One  only  wise,  omnipotent,  and  eternal  Being, 
the  Creator  and  Preserver  of  all  things  ;  infinite  in  all  glo- 
rious attributes  and  perfections ;  the  inexhaustible  Source 
of  all  good  as  well  as  of  all  happiness,  and  the  holy  object 
of  adoration,  worship,  and  praise,  from  angels  and  from 
men. 

When  expressing  their  views  relative  to  the  awful  and 
mysterious  doctrine  of  "  the  Three  that  bear  record  in 
Heaven,"  they  have  carefully  avoided  entangling  them- 
selves by  the  use  of  unscriptural  terms,  invented  to  define 
Him  who  is  undefinable,  scrupulously  adhering  to  the  safe 
and  simple  language  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  as  contained 
in  Matt,  xxviii.  18,  19,  and  1  John  v.  7.  Although  the  au- 
thenticity of  the  latter  text  has  been  questioned,  yet  this  is 
entirely  unimportant,  both  as  to  the  doctrine  itself,  which 
is  clearly  and  sufficiently  enforced  in  other  passages,  and 
also  as  relates  to  the  faith  of  the  Society,  inasmuch  as  Friends 
have  uniformly  selected  it  to  convey  their  belief  on  the 
subject.    The  following  extracts  will  corroborate  these 


40       OF  THE  THREE  THAT  BEAR  RECORD  IN  HEAVEN, 


GEORGE  FOX. 

In  his  "  Testimony  of  what  we  believe  concerning  Christ. 
&;c."  after  reciting  the  text  from  1  John  v.  7,  he  thus  pro- 
ceeds : — 

"  And  ye  professors  who  have  given  new  names  to  the 
Father,  the  Word,  and  Holy  Ghost ;  as  Trinity,  and  three 
distinct  persons,  and  say  the  Scripture  is  your  rule  for  your 
doctrine  ;  but  there  is  no  such  rule  in  the  Scripture,  to  call 
them  by  these  new  names,  which  the  Apostle  that  gave 
forth  the  Scripture,  doth  not  give  them.  And  because  we 
do  not  call  the  Father,  and  the  Word,  and  Holy  Ghost,  by 
your  new  names,  therefore  do  yon  falsely  say  that  the 
Quakers  deny  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost ;  which  we  own 
in  those  names  and  sound  v\^ords,  in  which  the  holy  men  of 
God  spake  them  forth  by  the  Holy  Ghost — which  ye  give 
other  new  names  to,  and  yet  say  ye  have  not  the  same  spirit 
which  they  had,  that  gave  forth  the  Scriptures  :  so,  which 
IS  to  be  followed,  judge  yourselves?  But  this  is  the  record, 
that  God  has  given  unto  us  eternal  life,  and  this  life  is  in 
his  Son.  And  we  know  that  the  Son  of  God  is  come,  and 
hath  given  us  a  mind  to  know  Him  which  is  true,  and  we 
are  in  him  that  is  true;  mark^  that  is  in  his  Son  Jesus 
Christ,  this  same  is  very  God  and  eternal  life.  And  this, 
we  the  people  of  God,  in  scorn  called  Quakers,  do  witness." 

Doctrinals,  446.  1675. 

In  his  "  Answer  to  all  such  as  falsely  say  the  Quakers 
are  no  Christians,"  he  has  these  words,  viz. 

"  And  we  own  the  Father,  the  Son  and  the  Holy  Ghost, 
as  the  Apostles  have  declared." 

"  And  it  is  the  Spirit  that  beareth  witness,  because  the 
Spirit  is  truth  ;  for  there  are  three  that  bear  record  in 
Heaven,  the  Father,  the  Word,  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  and 
these  Three  are  one ;  and  there  are  Three  w^hich  bear  re- 
cord in  earth,  &c.  which  we  own,  1  John  v.  6,  7.  And  now 
let  none  be  olfended,  because  w^e  do  not  call  them  by  those 
unscriptural  names  of  Trinity,  and  Three  Persons,  which 
are  not  Scripture  words  ;  and  so  do  falsely  say,  that  we 
deny  the  Father,  the  Word,  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  which 
Three  are  one  that  bear  record  in  heaven,  &lc.  which  Three 
we  own  with  all  our  hearts,  as  the  Apostle  John  did,  and 
as  all  true  Christians  ever  did,  and  now  do  ;  and  if  you  say 


OF  THE  THREE  THAT  BEAR  RECORD  IX  HEAVEN,  41 


we  are  not  Christians,  because  we  do  not  call  the  Father, 
Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  the  Trinity,  distinct  and  separate 
persons  ;  then  jou  may  as  well  conclude  that  John  was  no 
Christian,  who  did  not  give  the  Father,  Word,  and  Holy 
Ghost,  these  names. 

"  We  believe  concerning  God  the  Father,  Son,  and 
Spirit,  according  to  the  testimony  of  the  Holy  Scripture, 
which  we  receive  and  embrace  as  the  most  authentic  and 
perfect  declaration  of  christian  faith,  being  indited  by  the 
Holy  Spirit  of  God,  that  never  errs:  1st,  That  there  is 
one  God  and  Father,  of  whom  are  all  things ;  2dly,  That 
there  is  one  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  by  whom  all  things  were 
made,  John  i.  and  xvii.  and  Rom.  ix.  who  was  glorified 
with  the  Father  before  the  world  began,  who  is  God  over 
all,  blessed  for  ever,  John  xiv.  That  there  is  one  Holy 
Spirit,  the  promise  of  the  Father  and  the  Son,  and  leader, 
and  sanctifier,  and  comforter  of  his  people,  1  John  v. 
And  we  further  believe,  as  the  Holy  Scriptures  soundly 
and  sufficiently  express,  that  these  Three  are  one,  even  the 
Father,  the  Word,  and  Spirit,"  Page  26,  27.  1682. 

In  an  Epistle  dated  at  Kingston,  27th  of  5th  month,  1683, 
he  says : — 

So  being  led  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  ye  are  his  sons  and 
daughters,  and  by  his  Spirit  will  come  to  know  the  Three 
that  bear  witness  in  heaven,  the  Father,  the  Word,  and 
the  Holy  Ghost.  These  are  the  Three  witnesses  that  are 
in  heaven,  that  bear  record  of  all  things ;  for  he  is  God  in 
the  heaven,  and  God  in  the  earth."  Journal,  vol.  ii.  p.  330. 

In  an  Epistle  dated  4th  month,  1685,  I  find  the  follow- 
ing expressions,  viz. 

"  Live  in  the  love  which  God  hath  shed  abroad  in  your 
hearts  through  Christ  Jesus;  in  which  love,  nothing  is  able 
to  separate  you  from  God  and  Christ,  neither  outward  suf- 
ferings, persecutions,  nor  any  outward  thing  that  is  below 
and  without ;  nor  to  hinder  or  break  your  heavenly  fellow- 
ship in  the  light,  gospel,  and  spirit  of  Christ ;  nor  your  holy 
communion  in  the  Holy  Ghost,  that  proceeds  from  the 
Father  and  the  Son,  which  leads  you  into  all  truth.  In 
this  Holy  Ghost,  in  which  is  your  holy  communion,  that 
proceeds  from  the  Father  and  the  Son,  you  have  fellowship 
with  the  Father  and  the  Son,  and  one  with  another." 
Journal,  vol.  ii.  353. 

In  an  Answer  to  the  Speech  of  the  great  Turk,  he  says : 
4* 


42       OF  THE  THREE  THAT  BEAR  RECORD  1^  HEAVEN,  &LC. 


"  And  there  are  three  which  bear  witness  or  record  in 
heaven,  the  Father,  the  Word,  and  the  Holj  Ghost,  and 

these  are  one,  &c."    Doctrinals,  p.  1009.  1688. 

Again,  on  page  1010,  he  thus  expresses  himself: — 
"  So  the  Spirit  of  God,  the  blood  of  Jesus,  the  water  of 
the  Word,  are  Three  that  agree  in  one,  that  bear  witness 
or  record  in  the  earth ;  and  there  are  Three  which  bear 
witness  or  record  in  heaven,  the  Father,  the  Word,  and  the 
Holy  Ghost,  and  these  Three  are  one  ;  he  that  hath  an  ear 
to  hear,  let  him  hear." 


ROBERT  BARCLAY, 

hi  his  "  Confession  of  Faith,  containing  twenty-three 
Articles,"  places  the  following  first : 

"Article  1st.  Concerning  God,  and  the  true  and  saving 
knowledge  of  him. 

"There  is  one  God,  who  is  a  Spirit;  and  this  is  the 
message  which  the  Apostles  heard  of  him,  and  declared 
unto  the  saints,  that  He  is  light,  and  in  Him  is  no  dark- 
ness at  all.  There  are  Three  that  bear  record  in  heaven, 
the  Father,  the  Word,  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  these  Three 
are  one.  The  Father  is  in  the  Son,  and  the  Son  is  in  the 
Father.  No  man  knoweth  the  Son  but  the  Father,  neither 
knoweth  any  man  the  Father  but  the  Son,  and  he  to  whom- 
soever the  Son  will  reveal  him.  The  Spirit  searcheth  all 
things,  yea,  the  deep  things  of  God.  For  the  things  of 
God  knoweth  no  man,  but  the  Spirit  of  God.  Now  the 
saints  have  receiv^ed,  not  the  spirit  of  the  world,  but  the 
spirit  which  is  of  God,  that  they  might  know  the  things 
which  are  freely  given  them  of  God.  For  the  Comforter, 
w^hich  is  the  Holy  Ghost,  whom  ihe  Father  sends,  in  Chr{st''s 
name,  he  teacheth  them  all  things,  and  bringeth  all  things 
to  their  remembrance."    P.  104.  1673. 

So  in  his  Catechism,  page  2,  he  says .: — 

Q.  "  What  are  they  that  bear  record  in  heaven  ?" 

"  Answer.  There  are  Three  that  bear  record  in  heaven, 
the  Father,  the  Word,  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  these  Three 
are  one." 

In  his  Vindication  of  his  Apology,  are  the  following  ex- 
pressions : 


OF  THE  THREE  THAT  BEAR  RECORD  IN  HEAVEN,  &.C.  43 


"  It  will  not  be  amiss  here  to  take  notice  of  his  [Brown's] 
most  uncharitable  and  unchristian  insinuations,  contrary 
to  all  Christian  and  fair  rules  of  debate,  as  first,  (p.  24) 
where  he  will  needs  infer  our  denying  of  the  Trinity,  albeit 
he  cannot  deny,  but  he  finds  it  owned  by  me  ;  groundlessly 

coupling  us  with  the  Socinians."    Works,  page  739.  

1679. 

Again — "  According  to  his  [Brown's]  custom,  though  I 
condemn  the  Socinians,  he  will  be  insinuating  that  I  agree 
with  them ;  to  W'hose  notions  of  the  Spirit,  albeit  I  assent 
not,  yet  I  desire  to  know  of  him,  in  what  Scripture  he  finds 
these  words,  that  the  Spirit  is  a  distinct  person  of  the 
Trinity.  For  1  freely  acknowledge,  according  to  the 
Scripture,  that  the  Spirit  of  God  proceedeth  from  the 
Father  and  the  Son,  and  is  God,  ^c."    lb.  p.  745. 


WILLIAM  PExNN. 

In  his  "Sandy  Foundation  Shaken,"  which  was  written 
to  refute  the  notion  of  "  One  God  subsisting  in  three  dis- 
tinct and  separate  persons,^"^  cautions  the  reader  against 
supposing  that  he  meant  to  deny  the  Holy  Scripture  Three, 
in  these  words :  "  Mistake  me  not,  we  never  have  disown- 
ed a  Father,  Word,  and  Spirit,  which  are  One,  but  men's 
inventions." — Works,  vol.  ii,  p.  264.  1668. 

In  his  reply  to  Jonathan  Clapham,  1  find  the  following, 
viz. . 

"  Thou  must  not,  reader,  from  my  querying  thus,  con- 
clude we  do  deny,  (as  he  hath  falsely  charged  us,)  those 
glorious  Three  which  bear  record  in  heaven,  the  Father, 
Word,  and  Spirit;  neither  the  infinity, eternity, and  divinity 
of  Jesus  Christ,  for  that  we  know^  He  is  the  mighty  God ; 
nor  what  the  Father  sent  his  Son  to  do,  on  the  behalf  of 
lost  man;  declaring  to  the  whole  world,  we  know  no  other 
name  by  which  atonement,  salvation,  and  plenteous  re- 
demption comes;  but  by  his  name,  are,  according  to  our 
measures,  made  sensible  of  its  mighty  power." — Works, 
vol.  ii.  p.  14. 

Again  to  Jonathan  Clapham's  charge,  that  the  Quakers 
openly  deny  the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity ;  after  declaring 
this  is  not  a  Scripture  phrase,  but  an  invented  term,  Fenn 


44      OF  THE  THREE  THAT  BEAR  RECORD  IN  HEAVEN,  &C. 


proceeds,  "Yet  if  by  Trinity,  he  understands  those  three 
Witnesses  in  heaven,  Father,  Word,  and  Spirit,  he  should 
have  better  acquainted  himself  with  what  we  disown,  than 
ignorantly  thus  to  blaze  abroad  our  open  denial  of  what 
we  most  absolutely  credit  and  believe." — Ibid,  page  18. 
 1668. 

From  his  "  Serious  Apology,"  &c.  I  extract  the  follow- 
ing, viz.— 

"  To  conclude  this  brief  account,  1  am  constrained,  for 
the  sake  of  the  simple  hearted,  to  publish  to  the  world,  of 
our  faith  in  God,  Christ,  and  the  Holy  Spirit. 

"  We  do  believe  in  one,  only,  holy  God  Almighty,  who 
is  an  Eternal  Spirit,  the  Creator  of  all  things. 

"  And  in  one  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  his  only  Son,  and  ex- 
press image  of  his  substance;  who  took  upon  him  flesh,  and 
was  in  the  world  ;  and  in  life,  doctrine,  miracles,  death, 
resurrection,  ascension  and  mediation,  perfectly  did,  and 
does  continue  to  do,  the  will  of  God  ;  to  whose  holy  life, 
power,  mediation,  and  blood,  we  only  ascribe  our  sanc- 
titication,  justification,  redemption,  and  perfect  salvation. 

"  And  we  believe,  in  one  holy  Spirit,  that  proceeds  and 
breathes  from  the  Father  and  the  Son,  as  the  life  and  virtue 
of  both  the  Father  and  the  Son  ;  a  measure  of  which  is  giv- 
en to  all  to  profit  with ;  and  he  that  has  one  has  all,  for 
those  Three  are  One,  who  is  the  Alpha  and  Omega — the 
First  and  the  Last,  God  over  all,  blessed  forever.  Amen." 
Vol.  ii.  pages  66,  67.  = — 1671. 

In  his  "Key,"  &c.  he  thus  speaks,  viz. — 

"  Perversion  9th. — The  Quakers  deny  the  Trinity. 

"  Principle. — Nothing  less.  They  beheve  in  the  holy 
Three,  or  Trinity  of  Father,  Word,  and  Spirit,  according  to 
Scripture  ;  and  that  these  Three  are  truly  and  properly 
One — of  one  nature  as  well  as  will.  But  they  are  very 
tender  of  quitting  Scripture  terms  and  phrases,  for  school- 
men's ;  such  as  distinct  and  separate  persons  and  subsist- 
ences, &c.  are ;  from  whence  people  are  apt  to  entertain 
gross  ideas,  and  notions  of  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy 
Ghost."— Works,  vol.  ii.  p.  783.  1692. 

And  again — 

"  Reader,  thou  plainly  seest  that  they  believe  the  light 
to  be  divine,  and  the  Scriptures  to  be  of  divine  authority  ; 
that  they  own  the  Scripture  Trinity,  or  Holy  Three,  of 
Father,  Word,  and  Spirit,  to  be  truly  and  properly  One. 


OF  THE  THREE  THAT  BEAR  RECORD  IN  HEAVEN,  6lC.  45 


That  Christ  is  God,  and  that  Christ  is  man  ;  that  he  came  in 
the  flesh,  died,  rose  again,  ascended  and  sits  on  God's  right 
hand,  the  only  sacrifice  and  mediator  for  man's  happi- 
ness."—Works,  vol.  ii.  p.  789.  1692. 

In  his  "  Testimony  to  the  Truth,  as  held  by  the  people 
called  Quakers,"  written  in  1698,  he  has  these  declara- 
tions : — 

"Concerning  the  Father,  the  Word,  and  the  Spirit.  Be- 
cause we  have  been  very  cautious  in  expressing  our  faith 
concerning  that  great  mystery,  especially  in  such  school 
terms,  and  philosophical  distinctions  as  are  unscriptural,  if 
not  unsound,  (the  tendency  whereof  hath  been,  to  raise 
frivolous  controversies  and  animosities  amongst  men,)  we 
have,  by  those  that  desire  to  lessen  our  Christian  reputa- 
tion, been  represented  as  deniers  of  the  Trinity  at  large : 
whereas  we  ever  believed,  and  as  constantly  maintained, 
the  truth  of  that  blessed  Holy  Scripture  Three  that  bear 
record  in  heaven,  the  Father,  the  Word,  and  the  Spirit,  and 
that  these  Three  are  One ;  the  which  we  both  sincerely 
and  reverently  believe  according  to  1  John  v.  7.  And  this 
is  sufficient  for  us  to  beheve,  and  know,  and  hath  a  tendency 
to  edification  and  holiness  ;  when  the  contrary  centres  on- 
ly in  imaginations,  and  strife,  and  persecution,  where  it 
runs  high  and  to  parties,  as  may  be  read  in  bloody  charac- 
ters in  the  ecclesiastical  histories." — Vol.  ii.  p.  879. 


GEORGE  WHITEHEAD. 

George  Whitehead  being  questioned  by  a  priest  as  to  his 
belief  in  the  Trinity,  gives  this  reply: — 

"  I  answered  him  in  terms  of  Holy  Scripture,  viz.  that  I 
really  own  and  believe  the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy 
Ghost,  are  the  Three  which  bear  record  in  heaven ;  the 
Father,  the  Word,  and  the  Holy  Ghost :  and  these  Three 
are  One,  according  to  the  doctrine  of  John  the  evangelist, 
1  John  V.  7."— Works,  page  168.  1659. 

"  The  Holy  Scripture  Trinity,  or  Three  thereby  meant, 
we  never  questioned,  but  believed ;  as  also  the  unity  of 
Essence ;  that  they  are  one  substance,  one  Divine  infinite 
Being,  and  also  we  question  not,  but  sincerely  believe, 
the  relative  properties  of  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost, 


46      OP  THE  THREE  THAT  BEAR  RECORD  IN  HEAVEN,  &C. 

according  to  Holy  Scripture  testimony,  Matt,  xxviii.  19, 

and  that  these  Three  are  One,  1  John  v.  7."— P.  195.  

1659. 

In  order  that  the  different  denominations  of  protestants 
might  avail  themselves  of  the  benefit  of  the  act  of  tolera- 
tion, they  were  obliged  to  subscribe  a  declaration  of  their 
christian  belief.  The  form  required  by  the  committee  of 
parliament,  not  being  agreeable  to  Friends,  they  proposed 
a  substitute:  George  Whitehead,  speaking  of  the  subject, 
says — 

"  Yet  to  prevent  any  such  from  being  stumbled  or  en- 
snared, by  some  expressions  in  the  aforesaid  profession  or 
creed,  (which  appeared  unscriptural,)  in  the  said  bill,  we, 
instead  thereof,  did  propose  and  humbly  offer,  as  our  own 
real  belief  of  the  Deity,  of  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost, 
viz.  '  I  profess  faith  in  God  the  Father,  and  in  Jesus  Christ 
his  Eternal  Son,  the  true  God,  and  in  the  Holy  Spirit,  one 
God  blessed  for  ever :  and  do  acknowledge  the  Holy 
Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament,  to  be  given 
by  Divine  inspiration. 

"  Which  declaration,  John  Vaughton  and  I  deUvered  to 
Sir  Thomas  Clergis,  who,  with  some  others,  were  desirous 
we  should  give  in  such  confession  of  our  christian  belief, 
that  we  might  not  lie  under  the  unjust  imputation  of  being 
no  Christians,  nor  thereby  be  deprived  of  the  benefit  of 
the  intended  law  for  our  religious  liberty.  We  were  there- 
fore of  necessity,  put  upon  offering  the  said  confession,  it 
being  also  our  known,  professed  principle,  sincerely  to  con- 
fess Christ,  the  Son  of  the  living  God,  his  divinity,  and  as 
he  is  the  eternal  Word,  and  that  the  Three  which  bear  re- 
cord in  heaven,  the  Father,  the  Word,  and  the  Holy  Ghost, 
are  one  ;  one  Divine  Being,  one  God,  blessed  for  ever." — 
Page  635.  1689. 

In  a  work  entitled  "  Antichrist  in  flesh  unmasked,''  &c. 
he  thus  writes — 

"  To  conclude  in  general,  against  your  false  charges  and 
manifold  abuses  and  calumnies,  contained  in  your  said 
book,  viz.  '  Antichrist  in  Spirit ;'  and  to  anticipate  farther 
objections  on  the  matters  herein  ;  We  sincerely  profess  and 
declare,  in  the  sight  of  God  and  men,  that  we  do  faithfully 
believe  and  profess,  that  the  Holy  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and 
New  Testament  were  given  by  divine  inspiration  :  and  that 
the  Three  divine  Witnesses  in  heaven  above,  namely,  the 


OF  THE  THREE  THAT  BEAR  RECORD  IN  HEAVEN,  &C.  47 


Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  are  one  true  and  eternal  God, 
blessed  for  evermore,  whose  onnnipresence  and  omnipo- 

tency  we  also  believe  and  profess." — P.  27.-  -1691. 

In  his  essay  entitled  "  Truth  Prevalent,"  &c.  he  says — 
"  And  as  for  the  Holy  Trinity,  whereby  they  mean  those 
divine  holy  Three,  the  Father,  the  Word  or  the  Son,  and 
Holy  Ghost,  we  have,  ever  since  we  were  a  people  or  reli- 
gious Society,  sincerely  believed  and  owned  those  holy 
Three,  to  be  one  true  and  living  God,  blessed  for  ever." — 
Introductory  epistle,  p.  4.  1701. 


ISAAC  PENNINGTON, 

In  a  work  entitled  "  An  Examination  of  the  Grounds  and 
Causes,"  &c.  says — 

"  Concerning  the  Sacred  Trinity.  They  (the  Quakers) 
generally,  both  in  their  speakings  and  in  their  writings,  set 
their  seal  to  the  truth  of  that  Scripture,  1  John  v.  7.  That 
'  there  are  Three  that  bear  record  in  heaven,  the  Father,  the 
Word,  and  the  Holy  Spirit.'  That  these  Three  are  distinct, 
as  three  several  beings,  or  persons ;  this  they  read  not,  but  in 
the  same  place  they  read  that  they  are  one.  And  thus  they 
believe,  their  being  to  be  one,  their  Hfe  one,  their  light  one, 
their  wisdom  one,  their  power  one :  and  he  that  knoweth 
and  seeth  any  one  of  them,  knoweth  and  seeth  them  all, 
according  to  that  saying  of  Christ's  to  Philip, '  He  that  hath 
seen  me,  hath  seen  the  Father.'  John  xiv.  9 .  Three 
there  are,  and  yet  one ;  thus  they  have  read  in  the  Scrip- 
tures, and  this,  they  testify,  they  have  had  truly  opened  to 
them  by  that  very  Spirit  which  gave  forth  the  Scriptures, 
insomuch  that  they  certainly  know  it  to  be  true,  and  own 
the  thing  from  their  very  hearts  :  but  as  for  this  title  of  Sa- 
cred Trinity,  they  find  it  not  in  *  Scripture ;'  and  they  look 
upon  Scripture  words  as  fittest  to  express  Scripture  things 
by.  And  surely  if  a  man  mean  the  same  thing  as  the  Scrip- 
ture means,  the  same  words  will  sufiice  to  express  it :  but 
the  papists  and  schoolmen,  having  missed  of  the  thing  which 
the  Scripture  drives  at,  and  apprehended  somewhat  else, 
in  the  wise  imagining  part,  have  brought  forth  many  phra- 
ses of  their  own  invention,  to  express  their  apprehensions 
by,  which  we  confess  we  have  no  unity  with  ;  but  are  con- 


48      OF  THE  THREE  THAT  BEAR  RECORD  IN  HEAVEN,  &LC. 


tent  with  feeling  the  thing  which  the  Scriptures  speak  of, 
and  with  the  words  whereby  the  Scriptures  express  it." — 

Vol.  i.  p.  358.  1660. 

In  "  An  Epistle  to  all  Serious  Professors,"  he  has  these 
remarks : — 

"  The  first  is  concerning  the  Godhead,  which  we  own 
as  the  Scriptures  express  it,  and  as  we  have  the  sensible, 
experimental  knowledge  of  it :  in  which  there  are  Three 
that  bear  record  in  heaven,  the  Father,  the  Word,  and  the 
Holy  Spirit,  and  these  Three  are  One,  1  John  v.  7.  This 
I  believe  from  my  heart,  and  have  infallible  demonstrations 
of;  for  I  know  Three,  and  feel  Three  in  Spirit,  even  an^ 
Eternal  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Spirit,  which  are  but  one 
Eternal  God.  And  I  feel  them  also  One,  and  have  fellow- 
ship with  them,  through  the  tender  mercy  of  the  Lord,  in 
their  life,  and  in  their  redeeming  power.  And  here  I  lie 
low  before  the  Lord  in  the  sensible  life,  not  desiring  to 
know  and  comprehend  notionally ;  but  to  feel  the  thing 
inwardly,  truly,  sensibly,  and  effectually ;  yea,  indeed,  this 
is  to  me  far  beyond  what  1  formerly  knew  notionally  con- 
cerning them,  and  1  cannot  but  invite  others  hither. 

"  Now  consider  seriously,  if  a  man  from  his  heart  believe 
thus  concerning  the  eternal  power  and  Godhead ;  that  the 
Father  is  God,  the  Word  God,  the  Holy  Spirit  God ;  and 
that  these  are  one  Eternal  God,  waiting  so  to  know  God, 
and  to  be  subject  to  Him  accordingly ;  is  not  this  man  in 
a  right  frame  of  heart  towards  the  Lord,  in  this  respect  ? 
Indeed,  friends,  we  do  know  God  sensibly  and  experiment- 
ally, to  be  a  Father,  Word,  and  Spirit,  and  we  worship  the 
Father,  in  the  Son,  by  his  own  Spirit,  and  here  meet  with  the 
seal  of  acceptance  with  him." — Vol.  iv.  p.  450.  1668. 


EDWARD  BURROUGH. 

In  an  essay  entitled  "Satan's  Design  Defeated,  &c."  I 
find  the  following  accusation  and  reply,  viz. — 

"  They  [the  Quakers]  do  deny  the  doctrine  of  the  Tri- 
nity, and  that  Christ  is  God  and  Man  in  one  person. 

"  Answer.  As  for  the  word  Trinity,  it  is  invented,  and 
he  hath  learnt  it  out  of  the  mass  book,  or  common  prayer- 
book,  but  we  own  the  doctrine  of  the  gospel  of  Christ, 
that  Christ  is  God,  and  the  Spirit  is  God ;  and  there  are 


OP  THE  THBEE  THAT  BEAR  RECORD  IN  HEAVEN,  &C.  49 

Three  that  bear  record,  the  Father,  Son,  and  Spirit,  and 
these  are  one."— Works,  p.  515.  1659. 


FRANCIS  HOWGILL. 

In  an  essay  entitled  "  The  Heart  of  New  England  hard- 
ened," replying  to  one  who  had  misrepresented  the  Society 
of  Friends,  he  says, — 

"  First,  concerning  the  Trinity ;  thou  sayest,  '  they  con- 
fess the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  and  yet  they  deny 
the  Trinity,  and  those  to  be  three  distinct  persons;'  for 
confutation  of  this,  thou  bringest  Heb.  i.  and  iii..  He  is  the 
express  image  of  his  Father's  person. 

"  Thy  Trinity  is  an  old  popish  term,  and  we  love  to  keep 
to  sound  words ;  but  by  Trinity,  I  suppose  thou  meanest 
three,  and  thy  own  words  shall  confute  thee.  Thou  con- 
fessest  we  say,  there  is  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  and 
yet  but  one  God,  or  one  eternal  being  or  substance,  in 
which  they  all  subsist :  but  thy  word  '  distinct'  is  thy  own, 
and  not  the  Spirit's,  yet,  to  distinguish  betwixt  Father,  Son, 
and  Spirit,  we  deny  not :  and  as  for  Heb.  i.  it  is  in  another 
translation  rendered,  the  express  image  of  his  substance ; 
for  person  is  too  gross  a  word,  to  express  an  Eternal 
and  Divine  Being  in  ;  and  if  thou  dost  hold  three  distinct 
substances,  thou  errest  in  thy  judgment,  for  that  were  to 
make  three  Gods."— P.  303.  1659. 


GEORGE  FOX  THE  YOUNGER, 

In  an  essay  entitled  "  A  Message  of  Tender  Love,"  &lc. 
speaking  of  Jesus  Christ,  makes  use  of  the  following  ex- 
pressions, viz. — 

"  This  is  he  that  is  given  to  be  the  Head  of  the  body, 
which  is  the  congregation  of  the  righteous,  the  Fulness  of 
him  that  filleth  all  in  all ;  that  He,  in  all  things,  (in  whom 
all  fulness  dwells,)  might  have  the  pre-eminence,  being 
the  express  substance  of  the  Father's  glory,  and  the  very 
virtue  of  his  being,  one  with  him  in  nature,  and  one  in 
name:  for  as  the  Father  is  divine,  so  the  Son  is  also  divine ; 
and  as  the  Father  is  called  the  Light,  so  the  Son  is  also 
5 


60      OF  THE  THREE  THAT  BEAR  BECOSD  IN  HEAVEN,  &C. 

called  the  Light ;  the  Father  is  called  the  Mighty  God,  so 
is  the  Son  also ;  yea,  the  Son's  name  is  called  Wonder- 
ful, the  Mighty  God,  the  Everlasting  Father,  (mark  that,) 
the  Prince  of  Peace,  of  whose  government  there  shall  be 
no  end. 

"  Now  in  the  Father  there  is  life,  and  in  the  Word,  the 
Son,  there  is  life,  and  this  is  one  ;  and  this  life,  proceeding 
from  the  Father  and  the  Son,  is  that  one  Eternal  Spirit, 
which  is  not  to  be  limited  ;  yea,  God  is  a  Spirit,  and  Christ 
is  the  Lord,  that  Spirit;' yea,  he  is  the  second  Adam,  the 
Lord  from  heaven,  the  quickening  Spirit,  by  whom  the 
free  gift  is  come  upon  all  men,  to  justify  them  that  believe 
in  the  life :  and  he  that  believeth  not,  he  is  condemned 
by  the  life,  which  is  the  Light  that  doth  enlighten  every 
one  that  cometh  into  the  world :  so  the  gift  that  is  come 
upon  the  unbeliever,  that  condemns  him,  because  he  be- 
lieveth not  in  the  Light,  but  loves  the  darkness  better." — 
P.  166.  1668. 


RICHARD  FARNSWORTH. 

In  the  year  1658,  about  ten  years  after  the  commence- 
ment of  George  Fox's  public  ministry,  Richard  Farns- 
worth,  who  had  been  convinced  under  his  preaching  at 
Balby  in  1651,  wrote  and  published  "A  Confession  and 
Profession  of  Faith  in  God,  &c."  He  addresses  it  "  to  all 
true  Christians,"  and  "  to  all  faithful  moderate  people," 
with  these  words — 

"  Know  ye  hereby  assuredly,  that  we,  who  of  the  world 
are  slanderously  reported,  as  the  people  of  God  were  in 
former  ages,  and  who  are  reproachfully  called  Quakers, 
do  profess,  and  confess,  testify,  own,  believe,  and  declare 
as  folio weth : — 

"  That  we  profess  and  confess  faith  in  God  the  Father, 
and  in  Jesus  Christ  his  eternal  Son,  the  true  God,  and  in 
the  Holy  Spirit.  And  we  do  acknowledge  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures of  the  Old  and  New  Testament  to  be  the  words  of 
God :  this  we  testify ;  and  we  are  not  ashamed  to  confess 
and  profess  faith  in  God  the  Father,  and  in  Christ  Jesus 
his  eternal  Son,  and  in  the  Holy  Spirit,  as  the  Scriptures 
saith ;  but  we  do  believe  in  them,  and  acknowledge  sub- 


OP  THE  THREE  THAT  BEAR  RECORD  IN  HEAVEN,  &C.  31 


jection  and  dutiful  obedience  unto  them,  viz.  the  Father, 
Son,  and  Holy  Spirit.  And  moreover,  we  do  hereby  de- 
clare and  testify  to  all  true  Christians,  God's  elect,  what 
God  we  do  own  and  profess  faith  in,  even  in  that  God  that 
appeared  unto  Abraham,  the  father  of  the  faithful,  when 
Abraham  was  ninety-nine  years  old,  and  said  unto  him,  I 
am  the  Almighty  God,  walk  before  me  and  be  thou  per- 
fect. Gen.  xvii.  The  everlasting  God,  the  God  of  heaven 
and  earth,"  <fcc.  He  then  proceeds  to  enumerate  a  lai^e 
collection  of  Scripture  passages,  illustrative  of  the  majesty 
and  glorious  attributes  of  the  great  Jehovah ;  after  which, 
he  thus  proceeds : — "  And  this  is  God  the  Father,  which 
we  own  and  profess  faith  in,  and  in  Christ  Jesus  his  eter- 
nal Son,  who  said,  1  and  my  Father  are  one,  John  x.  30. 
upon  which  saying  the  Jews  took  up  stones  to  stone  him ; 
yet,  notwithstanding,  the  same  Christ  that  the  Jews  hated, 
we  love,  beheve  in,  and  own ;  who  was  delivered  up  to  be 
crucified  for  our  otfences,  and  was  raised  again  for  our 
justification,  Rom.  iv.  25.  who  is  the  true  God ;  and  him 
we  own  and  profess  faith  in,  and  in  the  Holy  Spirit,  God, 
together  equal  with  the  Father  and  the  Son,  one  God  over 
all,  God  blessed  forever."— P.  3,  4.  1658. 


THOMAS  CURWEN,   WILLIAM  HOULDEX,  HENRY  WOOD, 
AND  WILLIAM  WILSON, 

Published  an  answer  to  John  Wiggan,  who  had  traduced 
the  Society  of  Friends  with  many  false  accusations.  Their 
reply  contains  the  following  sentence,  viz. — 

"  And  thou  hast  denied  Christ  to  be  the  Word,  who  is 
the  Light  of  the  world,  and  doth  enlightea  every  man  that 
comes  into  the  world.  There  are  Three  that  bear  record 
in  heaven,  the  Father,  the  Word  and  the  Holy  Ghost — so 
thou  hast  denied  this  record  in  heaven,  who  sayest.  The 
Word  is  not  Christ,  who  was  with  the  Father,  spoken  of 
in  John — the  Word  w^as  w^ith  God,  1  John  v.  2.  We  are 
in  him  that  is  true,  in  his  Son  Jesus  Christ,  this  is  the  true 
God  and  eternal  life."— P.  61.  1665. 


52      OF  THE  THREE  THAT  BEAR  RECORD  IN  HEAVEN,  6lC. 


EDWARD  BOURN, 

In  his  "  Answer  to  Dr.  Good's  Dialogue  against  those 
called  Quakers,"  has  the  following  observations  : — 

"  There  are  Three  that  bear  record  in  heaven,  the  Fa- 
ther, and  the  Word,  ani  the  Holy  Ghost,  these  Three  are 
one  :  and  this  we  own  in  Scripture  language,  according  to 
John's  doctrine."— P.  5.  1675. 


.     WILLIAM  SHEWEN, 

In  the  year  1679,  wrote  a  work  entitled  "  The  true 
Faith  and  Experience  of  the  true  Christian  briefly  declar- 
ed," &:c.  in  which  are  the  following  expressions  : — 

"  Concerning  God.  The  true  Christian  believes  there 
is  one  God,  who  is  a  Spirit,  pure  in  essence,  omnipresent 
in  being,  incomprehensible  and  almighty  in  power."  Page  1. 

"  The  true  Christian  believes  in  one  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
who  came  from  the  bosom  of  the  Father,  who  is  the  Son 
of  the  true  God,  by  whom  he  made  the  world  ;  and  that 
this  Lord  Jesus  Christ  is  his  Saviour,  Redeemer,  Sanctifier, 
and  Cleanser  by  his  precious  blood,  and  is  to  him  as  a 
King,  Priest,  and  Prophet." — Page  7. 

"The  true  Christian  believes  in  the  Holy  Spirit,  being 
one  of  the  Three  which  bear  record  in  heaven,  which 
Three  are  one,  and  he  showeth  forth  his  faith  by  his  obe- 
dience thereto,"  &c.— P.  12. 


JOHN  BURNYEAT  AND  JOHN  WATSON, 

In  an  essay  entitled  "  The  holy  Truth  and  its  Professors 
Defended,"  make  the  following  declarations,  viz. — 

"  He  [an  opposer]  charges  us  with  denying  the  Trinity, 
as  he  terms  it. 

"  Answer. — We  do  really  own  the  Three  that  bear  re- 
cord in  heaven,  the  Father,  the  Word,  and  the  Holy  Ghost, 
and  these  Three  are  one,  1  John  v.  6.  And  we  also 
own  the  three  that  bear  witness  in  earth,  the  spirit,  the 


OP  THE  THREE  THAT  BEAR  RECORD  IN  HEAVEN,  53 


water,  and  the  blood,  and  these  three  agree  in  one,  as 
verse  8,  and  so  we  do,  and  always  did  believe,  according 
to  the  Holy  Scriptures."— P.  224.  1688. 


WILLIAM  CHANDLER,  ALEXANDER  P^OTT,  JOSEPH 
HODGES,  AND  OTHERS, 

In  "  A  brief  Apology  on  behalf  of  the  people  in  derision 
called  Quakers,"  &c.  use  the  following  expressions  : — 

"  We  believe  in  that  great  omnipotent  God,  that  made 
and  created  all  things,  and  gave  us  our  being,  whom  in 
sincerity  of  heart  we  fear,  reverence,  and  worship,  being 
seriously  concerned  for  our  souls'  welfare  to  eternity.  We 
believe  that  great  mystery  that  there  are  Three  that  bear 
record  in  heaven,  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  and 
that  these  Three  are  one  being  and  substance." — Page  7. 
 1693. 


BENJAMIN  COOLE. 

About  the  year  1696,  this  Friend  wrote  and  published  a 
work,  entitled  "  The  Quakers  cleared  from  being  Apos- 
tates," &c.  in  reply  to  a  certain  Samuel  Young,  who  had 
proved  himself  a  bitter  opponent  of  the  Society.  From 
this  work  we  take  the  following  declaration  of  faith  : — 

We  believe  in  one  God,  the  Father  Almighty,  maker 
of  all  things,  visible  and  invisible ;  and  in  one  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  the  Son  of  God,  the  only  begotten  Son  of  the  Fa- 
ther, that  is  of  the  substance  of  the  Father,  by  whom  all 
things  were  made,  both  the  things  in  heaven  and  the  things 
in  earth  :  who  for  us  men,  and  for  our  salvation,  came 
down  and  was  incarnate ;  he  was  made  man  ;  he  suffered, 
and  rose  the  third  day  ;  he  ascended  into  the  heavens  ;  he 
shall  come  to  judge  both  the  quick  and  the  dead.  And  we 
believe  in  the  Holy  Ghost." — page  59. 

"  And  for  the  Trinity,  as  he  calls  it,  we  as  much  believe 
it  as  the  Scripture  declares  it,  viz.  For  there  are  Three 
that  bear  record  in  heaven,  the  Father,  the  Word,  and  the 
Holy  Ghost,  and  these  Three  are  one." — P.  63. 

5* 


54      OF  THE  THREU  THAT  BEAR  RECORl)  IN  HEAVEN,  &;C. 


JOHN  CROOK. 

In  the  year  1698,  shortly  before  the  decease  of  this  wor- 
thy man,  he  reprinted  a  declaration  of  the  early  faith  of 
the  Society  of  Friends,  to  which  he  prefixes  the  following 
note,  viz. — 

"  It  being  allowed  by  some  adversaries,  that  we  are 
more  sound  in  the  fundamental  doctrines  of  the  Christian 
faith,  than  they  thought  of;  yet  they  persist  to  object,  that 
we  have  altered  our  rehgion,  and  that  our  ancient  Friends 
held  grievous  errors ;  I  am  therefore  willing,  in  the  eighty- 
first  year  of  my  age,  that  this  following  treatise  should  be 
reprinted,  that  they  may  see  what  myself,  with  our  ancient 
Friends,  held  in  the  year  1663. 

"  JOHN  CROOK. 
"  Hertford,  the  10th  of  the  10th  month,  1698. 

From  this  declaration  or  confession,  which  is  entitled 
"  Truth's  Principles,"  &;c.  we  extract  the  following.  After 
speaking  largely  of  the  gift  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  dispensed  to 
all  mankind,  he  adds — 

By  this  grace  and  gift  within,  we  believe,  that  to  us, 
though  in  the  world  there  be  lords  many,  and  gods  many, 
there  is  but  one  God,  the  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
witnessed  within  man,  only  by  the  Spirit  of  truth,  that 
manifests  both  the  Father  and  the  Son  ;  and  these  Three 
are  one,  and  agree  in  one  ;  and  he  that  honours  the  Father 
honours  the  Son,  that  proceeds  from  him  ;  and  he  that  de- 
nies the  Spirit,  denies  both  the  Father  and  the  Son,  and  is 
antichrist ;  but  he  that  believes  in  the  spirit,  and  is  led  by 
it,  is  the  son  of  God  ;  Rom.  viii.  14.  'As  many  as  are  the 
the  sons  of  God,  are  led  by  the  Spirit  of  God.'  "  1663. 


JOSEPH  WYETH, 

In  replying  to  the  false  accusations  brought  against  the 
Society  of  Friends,  makes  use  of  the  following  lan- 
guage 

"  It  hath  been  an  objection  often  made,  sometimes  fool- 
ishly, sometimes  enviously,  but  always  falsely,  that  we 


OP  THE  THREE  THAT  BEAR  RECORD  IN  HEAVEN,  6lC.  55 


deny  the  Holy  Three,  mentioned  1  John  v.  7,  which  bear 
record  in  heaven  ;  because  we  cannot  but  think  the  word 
'  Person,'  too  gross  to  express  them.  We  own  their  distinc- 
tion in  all  the  instances  of  it,  recorded  in  Holy  Writ ;  and 
have  a  thousand  times  declared  our  sincere  behef,  in 
Almighty  God,  the  Creator  of  all  things,  and  in  Jesus  Christ 
his  eternal  Son,  by  whom  all  things  were  made,  and  in  the 
Holy  Spirit,  proceeding  from  the  Father  and  the  Son/' 
— Switch  for  the  Snake,  p.  184. 

"  Snake,  p.  121. — The  Quakers  and  Socinians  acknow- 
ledge a  three,  but  deny  a  trinity,  which  is  to  confess  the 
same  thing  in  English  and  to  deny  it  in  Latin :  for  trinitas 
is  only  Latin  for  three.  But  the  meaning  is,  they  would 
not  have  the  three  in  heaven  to  be  three  persons.  Though 
they  cannot  make  sense  of  what  three  they  are,  if  not 
three  Persons."    To  which  Joseph  Wyeth  replies : 

"  What  the  Socinians  acknowledge,  is  not  my  business 
to  inquire.  But  for  ourselves,  we  acknowledge  the  three 
mentioned  in  Holy  Writ,  which  bear  record  in  heaven,  and 
we  need  not  the  pedantry  of  the  Snake,  to  translate  the 
word  into  Latin :  and  the  sense  we  make  of  the  three, 
so  bearing  record,  is  the  same  which  is  declared  by  the 
Holy  Ghost ;  and  when  the  Snake  shall  show  that  the 
Holy  Ghost  hath  declared  them  three  Persons,  we  will 
not  fail  so  to  express  them." — Page  186,  187.  1699. 


RICHARD  ASHBY,  JOHN  FIDDEMAN,  AND  JOHN  CADE. 

In  the  year  1699,  these  Friends  published  a  work,  en- 
titled "  The  true  Light  owned  and  vindicated,  <iiz:c." — 
Defending  the  Society  from  the  charge  of  blasphemy,  they 
say  : — 

"  We  do  solemnly  and  in  good  conscience  testify  and 
declare,  in  behalf  of  the  people  called  Quakers,  that  they 
profess  and  teach  no  other  light  within,  for  man  to  be  led  and 
guided  by,  than  what  the  Holy  Scriptures  hold  forth,  and 
declare  of  very  plainly,  concerning  the  eternal  God,  and 
Jesus  Christ  the  eternal  Son  of  God,  and  the  eternal  Spirit, 
proceeding  from  the  Father  and  the  Son,  who  with  the 

Father  and  Son,  is  one  God  blessed  for  ever." — P.  7.  > 

1699. 


56      OF  THE  THREE  THAT  BEAR  RECORD  IN  HEAVEN,  6lC. 


JOHN  FIELD, 

In  a  pamphlet  entitled  "  Some  observations  on  the  re- 
marks upon  the  Quakers,  &;c."  replies  to  several  accusa- 
tions brought  against  the  Society,  and  charges  his  oppo- 
nent w^ith  asserting  two  untruths;  one  of  which  is  "  that 
the  Quakers  deny  the  ever-blessed  and  undivided  trinity  : 
of  which  he  [the  accuser]  as  confidently  as  falsely  says, 
'  nothing  is  more  certain  than  that  they  are  against.'  When 
nothing  is  more  true,  than  they  do,  and  always  did  own, 
there  are  three  that  bear  record  in  heaven,  the  Father, 
the  Word,  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  these  three  are  one.'' 
—Page  9.  1700. 


RICHARD  CLARIDGE, 

In  his  "  Treatise  on  the  Doctrine  of  the  Trinity,"  makes 
the  following  observations,  viz. — 

"  Is  it  not  better  and  safer  to  speak  of  the  mysterious 
Trinity  in  the  language  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  than  in  their 
invented  terms  and  phrases  ?  By  keeping  to  scripture 
revelation,  we  shall  declare  our  faith  in  a  (brm  of  sound 
and  safe  words ;  but  if  we  go  beyond  those  sacred  records 
for  our  creed,  there  may  quickly  be  as  muny  symbols  of 
faith,  as  there  are  fond  and  ambitious  innovators. 

"  Therefore  in  this,  and  all  other  articles  of  faith  and 
doctrines  of  religion,  in  common  to  be  believed,  in  order 
to  eternal  salvation,  let  not  the  opinions,  explications,  or 
conceptions  of  men,  which  are  often  dubious,  various,  or 
erroneous,  be  esteemed  as  a  rule  or  standard,  but  let  every 
one  rely  upon  the  divine  testimony  of  the  Holy  Scriptures, 
which  declare  that  "  God  is  one,  and  there  is  none  other 
besides  him  ;  and  that  the  one  God  is  Father,  Son,  and 
Holy  Spirit:  or,  as  it  is  expressed  1  John  v.  7. — The  Fa- 
ther, the  Word,  and  the  Holy  Ghost."— Works,  p.  414. 

In  his  essay  on  the  doctrine  of  "  Christ's  Satisfaction," 
he  says : — 

"  And  as  we  distinguish  between  a  Scripture  Trinity, 
Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  which  we  unfeignedly  be- 
lieve ;  and  that  humanly  devised  trinity  of  three  distinct 


OF  THE  THREE  THAT  BEAB  RECORD  IN  HEAVEN,  &;C. 


57 


and  separate  persons,  which  we  receive  not,  because  the 
Holy  Scriptures  make  no  mention  of  it :  so  we  distinguish 
between  scripture  redemption  and  the  vulgar  doctrine  of 
satisfaction.  The  first  we  receive,  the  second  we  reject." 
Page  423. 


THOxMAS  BEAVEN. 

From  a  Confession  of  Faith,  published  on  behalf  of  the 
Society  of  Friends,  we  extract  the  following,  viz. 

"  To  give  them  the  true  sense  of  that  people  (the  Qua- 
kers) I  say,  that  as  1,  so  they  believe  in  the  Father,  the 
Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  Almighty,  All-seeing,  Omnipre- 
sent, One  God,  the  Creator  of  all  things,  both  in  heaven 
and  earth :  That  the  Son,  in  the  fulness  of  time,  came 
down  from  heaven,  and  took  upon  him,  not  the  nature  of 
angels,  but  the  seed  of  Abraham  ;  was  born  of  the  Virgin 
Mary ;  suffered  under  Pontius  Pilate,  the  cruel  and  shame- 
ful death  of  the  cross,  to  be  a  propitiation  and  atonement 
for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world ;  he  rose  again  the  third 
day  from  the  dead,  and  ascended  into  heaven,  and  is  the 
Intercessor,  Advocate,  and  Mediator,  between  God  and 
man ;  the  King,  Priest,  and  Prophet  of  his  church,  the 
only  Author  of  salvation,  unto  all  that  obey  him,  true  God 
and  perfect  man. 

"  That  the  Holy  Ghost  proceedeth  from  the  Father  and 
the  Son,  the  Lord  and  giver  of  light  to  the  minds  and  con- 
sciences of  men ;  the  sanctifier  of  the  heart ;  the  inward 
Comforter  of  good  men,  and  condemner  of  evil  men,  the 
safe  leader  into  all  necessary  truth ;  the  guide  sent  us  from 
heaven  to  lead  us  thither.  That  God  hath  always  had  a 
church  or  people  in  the  world,  consisting  of  believing  and 
obedient  souls,  according  to  the  best  light  and  knowledge 
received  from  him,  of  whatsoever  nation  or  different  pro- 
fession. 


DECLARATIONS  OF  THE  SOCIETY  OF  FRIENDS. 

The  following  is  extracted  from  a  tract,  entitled  "  The 
Christianity  of  the  Quakers  asserted  against  the  unjust 


68      OP  THE  THREE  THAT  BEAR  RECORD  IN  HEAVEN,  &C. 

charge  of  their  being  no  Christians,  wherein  is  a  plain  con- 
fession of  the  faith  of  the  Quakers,  in  the  form  of  a  cate- 
chism, printed  the  first  year  after  the  revolution,  1689,  and 
given  in  to  Parliament. 

Q,  "  What's  your  belief  concerning  the  blessed  Trinity, 
as  our  term  is? 

"  Answer.  Our  belief  is,  that  in  the  unity  of  the  God- 
head there  is  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  being  those 
Three  Divine  Witnesses  that  bear  record  in  Heaven,  the 
Father,  the  Word,  and  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  that  these 
Three  are  one,  according  to  Holy  Scrijjture  testimony." 
See  "  A  Review  of  the  State  of  the  English  nation,"  pub- 
lished 1706. 

For  further  extracts  from  this  declaration,  see  the  next 
section. 

In  the  year  1693,  the  Society  of  Friends  were  greatly 
misrepresented  and  traduced,  as  denying  the  doctrines  of 
the  Christian  religion,  particularly  the  divinity  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  and  his  propitiatory  sacrifice  for  the  sins  of 
the  whole  world.  In  order  to  clear  themselves  from  these 
false  accusations,  they  drew  up  a  full  declaration  of  their 
Christian  belief,  from  which  I  extract  the  following — the 
remainder  will  be  inserted  under  the  next  section.  After 
stating  the  causes  which  led  to  the  publication  of  it,  they 
thus  proceed,  viz. 

"  We  are,  therefore,  tenderly  concerned  for  truth's  sake, 
in  behalf  of  the  said  people,  (as  to  the  body  of  them,  and 
for  all  of  them  who  are  sincere  to  God,  and  faithful  to 
their  Christian  principle  and  profession,)  to  use  our  just 
endeavours  to  remove  the  reproach,  and  all  causeless 
jealousies  concerning  us,  touching  those  doctrines  of  Chris- 
tianity, or  any  of  them,  pretended,  or  supposed,  to  be  in 
question  in  the  said  division ;  in  relation  whereunto,  we 
do,  in  the  fear  of  God,  and  in  simplicity  and  plainness  of 
his  truth  received,  solemnly  and  sincerely  declare  what  our 
Christian  belief  and  profession  has  been,  and  still  is,  in 
respect  to  Jesus  Christ  the  only  begotten  Son  of  God,  his 
suffering,  death,  resurrection,  glory,  light,  power,  great  day 
of  judgment,  &;c. 

"  We  sincerely  profess  faith  in  God  by  his  only  begotten 
Son  Jesus  Christ,  as  being  our  light  and  life,  our  only  way 
to  the  Father,  and  also  our  only  Mediator  and  Advocate 
with  the  Father. 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


59 


"  That  God  created  all  things,  lie  made  the  worlds,  by 
his  Son  Jesus  Christ,  he  being  that  powerful  and  living 
Word  of  God,  by  whonn  all  things  were  made  ;  and  that  the 
Father,  the  Word,  and  Holy  Spirit  are  one,  in  Divine  Being 
inseparable ;  one  true,  living  and  eternal  God,  blessed  for 
ever." 

Signed  in  behalf  of  our  Christian  profession  and  people 
aforesaid — George  Whitehead,  Ambrose  Rigge,  William 
Fallowfield,  James  Parke,  Charles  Marshall,  John  Bowa- 
ter,  John  Vaughton,  William  Bingley.  See  Sewell's  His- 
tory, vol.  ii.  p.  449. 


SECTION  II. 


On  the  Divimty  and  Offices  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ. 

There  is  scarcely  any  article  of  Christian  doctrine,  in 
which  the  Society  of  Friends  have  more  fully  or  repeatedly 
declared  their  sincere  belief,  than  in  the  proper  divinity  of 
our  blessed  Lord  tind  Saviour  Jesus  Christ.  They  have 
uniformly  testified  that  he  was  the  Word  of  God,  spoken 
of  by  the  Evangelist  John,  by  whom  the  world  and  all  things 
else  were  made  ;  who  was  with  God  in  the  beginning,  and 
who  was,  and  is,  over  all,  God  blessed  for  ever.  Amen. 
They  believe  that  in  the  fulness  of  time,  this  eternal  "  Word 
was  made  flesh,"  and  dwelt  among  men  in  the  person  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  was  conceived  by  the  Holy 
Ghost  and  born  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  at  "  Bethlehem  of  Ju- 
dea,  in  the  days  of  Herod  the  king concerning  whom  the 
angels  declared  to  the  shepherds  who  "  were  keeping  watch 
over  their  flocks  by  night,"  "  unto  you  is  born  this  day  in 
the  city  of  David,  a  Saviour  which  is  Christ  the  Lord." 
That  he  went  about  doing  good  to  the  bodies  and  souls  of 
men  ;  preaching  the  gospel  of  salvation,  and  giving  eternal 
life  to  as  many  as  believed  on  him — that  he  wrought  many 
mighty  miracles,  and  gave  other  infallible  proofs  that  he 
was  the  promised  Messiah,  the  true  Christ,  the  Son  and 


60       ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 

sent  of  God,  the  Redeemer  and  Saviour  of  the  world,  one 
with  the  Father,  agreeably  to  his  own  blessed  declarations. 
They  also  believe  that  this  same  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  was 
betrayed  into  the  hands  of  his  cruel  enemies  by  Judas 
Iscariot ;  falsely  accused  by  the  Jews  ;  condemned  and  cru- 
cified under  Pontius  Pilate,  and  his  body  laid  in  the  sepul- 
chre of  Joseph  of  Arimathea.  That  he  rose  from  the  dead 
on  the  third  day,  in  conformity  with  his  previous  declara- 
tion— "  destroy  this  temple,  and  in  three  days  1  will  raise 
it  up" — tarried  with  his  disciples  many  days  after  his  re- 
surrection, and  finally  ascended  up  into  heaven  in  their 
sight;  where  he  now  sitteth  at  the  right  hand  of  God  the 
Father,  in  a  glorified  body ;  our  Mediator,  Advocate  and 
Intercessor  with  the  Father  ;  from  whence  he  shall  come 
in  power  and  great  glory,  and  all  the  holy  angels  with  him, 
to  judge  both  quick  and  dead,  in  that  great  day  when  all 
nations  shall  be  gathered  before  him,  and  he  shall  separate 
them  one  from  another,  as  a  shepherd  divideth  his  sheep 
from  the  goats,  and  render  to  every  man  according  to  his 
deeds  ;  to  them  who,  by  patient  continuance  in  well  doing, 
seek  for  glory,  and  honour,  and  immortality,  eternal  life  ; 
but  unto  them  that  are  contentious  and  do  not  obey  the 
truth,  but  obey  unrighteousness,  indignation  and  wrath,  tri- 
bulation and  anguish,  upon  every  soul  of  man  that  doeth 
evil ;  everlasting  destruction  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord, 
and  from  the  glory  of  his  power  ;  where  their  worm  dieth 
not,  and  the  fire  is  not  quenched. 

The  Society  of  Friends  also  believe  that  he  laid  down 
his  precious  life,  and  offered  himself  up  to  the  ignominious 
death  of  the  cross,  a  voluntary  sacrifice  for  sin ;  thereby 
becoming  the  propitiation  for  our  sins,  and  not  for  ours  on- 
ly, but  also  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world.  That  while 
we  were  yet  sinners,  in  due  time,  Christ  died  for  the  un- 
godly :  who  his  own  self  bare  our  sins  in  his  own  body  on 
the  tree  ;  that  we  being  dead  to  sin,  should  live  unto  right- 
eousness ;  by  whose  stripes  we  are  healed  ;  whom  God 
hath  set  forth  to  be  a  propitiation  through  faith  in  his  blood, 
to  declare  his  righteousness  for  the  remission  of  sins  that 
are  past ;  that  as  sin  hath  reigned  unto  death,  even  so  might 
grace  reign  through  righteousness  unto  eternal  life,  by 
Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 

They  also  believe  him  to  be  the  Lord  from  heaven,  the 
quickening  Spirit,  who  is  now  come  the  second  time  with- 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESTS  CHRIST.  61 


out  sin  unto  salvation,  by  his  own  Holy  Spirit ;  the  mani- 
festation of  which  is  given  to  every  man  to  profit  withal. 
He  is  the  true  light,  which  lighteth  every  man  that  cometh 
into  the  world,  and  as  many  as  receive  him,  to  them  giveth 
He  power  to  become  the  sons  of  God,  even  to  them  that 
believe  on  his  name.  And  it  is  only  as  his  holy  light,  spirit, 
or  grace  in  the  soul  is  sincerely  believed  in  and  obeyed, 
that  the  blessed  end  and  benefits  of  the  coming  of  the  dear 
Son  of  God  in  the  flesh,  and  of  his  propitiatory  sufferings 
and  death  on  the  cross  for  our  sins,  can  be  savingly  known 
and  experienced. 

The  Society  of  Friends  have  never  believed  in,  nor 
preached,  any  other  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  than  Him  who  thus 
appeared  at  Jerusalem,  and  freely  laid  down  his  life  for  a 
fallen  world  ;  but  have  ever  owned  and  confessed  Him  to 
be  their  foundation,  and  the  Rock  of  eternal  salvation  to 
all  those  who  believe  in  him.  He  is  the  only  wise  God 
our  Saviour,  King  of  kings  and  Lord  of  lords — the  Lamb 
slain  from  the  foundation  of  the  world,  who  hath  loved  us 
and  washed  us  from  our  sins  in  his  own  blood ;  and  con- 
cerning whom  the  apostle  John  in  the  Revelations  bears 
this  exalted  testimony  : — "  And  I  beheld,  and  I  heard  the 
voice  of  many  angels  round  about  the  throne,  and  the  beasts 
and  the  elders,  and  the  number  of  them  was  ten  thousand 
times  ten  thousand,  and  thousands  of  thousands,  saying  with 
a  loud  voice.  Worthy  is  the  Lamb  that  was  slain  to  receive 
power,  and  riches,  and  wisdom,  and  strength,  and  honour, 
and  glory,  and  blessing  :  and  every  creature  which  is  in 
heaven  and  on  the  earth,  and  under  the  earth,  and  such  as 
are  in  the  sea,  an^  all  that  are  in  them,  heard  1,  saying, 
blessing,  and  honour,  and  glory,  and  power,  be  unto  Him 
that  sitteth  upon  the  throne,  and  unto  the  Lamb,  for  ever 
and  ever.    And  the  four  beasts  said  Amen.'' 


GEORGE  FOX. 

Among  the  many  early  writers  in  the  Society  of  Friends, 
there  are  few  who  appear  to  have  entertained  more  clear 
and  scriptural  views  of  the  coming  and  offices  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ ;  who  evinced  a  more  sincere  faith  in  him,  or 
6 


62        ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


greater  reverence  for  his  divine  attributes  and  character, 
than  George  Fox. 

These  characteristics  of  that  great  man  were  obvious  to 
his  contemporaries.  George  Whitehead,  in  a  testimony  con- 
cerning him,  says : — 

"  This  our  deceased  friend  and  servant  of  Jesus  Christ 
truly  testified  of  Him  in  all  respects,  both  as  come  in  the 
flesh,  and  in  the  Spirit ;  both  as  Christ  was  and  is  our  only 
Mediator  and  Advocate,  and  as  he  was  and  is,  God  over 
all,  blessed  for  ever ;  whom  he  so  dearly  loved  and  hon- 
oured, that  he  often  offered  up  his  life,  and  deeply  sulfered 
for  him,  and  that  in  dear  and  constant  love  to  his  seed,  that 
a  holy  generation  might  be  raised,  strengthened,  and  in- 
creased in  the  earth,  among  the  child^ren  of  men.  And  his 
knowledge  and  ministry  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  being 
after  the  Spirit  in  life  and  powxr,  did  no  ways  imply  any 
lessening  of  the  dignity  or  glory  of  Christ ;  nor  any  defect 
of  faith  or  love  to  Christ,  as  he  came  and  suffered  in  the 
flesh  for  mankind,  as  some  adversaries  have  injuriously  mis- 
represented and  aspersed  him  ;  for  he  highly  esteemed 
Christ's  sufferings,  death,  resurrection,  and  glory  ;  and  pow- 
erfully testified  of  the  virtue,  power,  blessed  and  spiritual 
design,  fruit,  and  efTects  thereof,  as  revealed  and  witnessed 
by  his  Holy  Spirit." 

The  subsequent  quotations  from  his  journal  and  other 
writings,  will  confirm  the  sentiments  expressed  by  George 
Whitehead. 

"  This  priest  Stevens  asked  me,  "  Why  Christ  cried  out 
upon  the  cross, '  My  God,  my  God,  why  hast  thou  forsaken 
me?'"  and  why  he  said,  Mf  it  be  possible,  let  this  cup 
pass  from  me,  yet  not  my  will  but  thine  be  done  V  I  told 
him,  at  that  time  the  sins  of  all  mankind  were  upon  him, 
and  their  iniquities  and  transgressions,  with  which  he  was 
wounded  ;  which  he  was  to  bear,  and  to  be  an  offering  for, 
as  he  was  man,  but  died  not  as  he  was  God  ;  so  in  that  he 
died  for  all  men,  tasting  death  for  every  man,  he  was  an 
offering  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world.  This  I  spoke,  be- 
ing at  that  time,  in  a  measure,  sensible  of  Christ's  suffer- 
ings."— Journal,  p.  86.  1644. 

In  his  "Great  Mystery,"  replying  to  one  who  asserted 
"  that  every  man  in  the  world  should  not  have  his  sins  par- 
doned," he  declares  : — 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


63 


Christ  gave  himself,  his  body,  for  the  hfe  of  the  whole 
world  ;  he  was  the  offering  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world  ; 
and  paid  the  debt,  and  made  satisfaction  ;  and  doth  en- 
lighten every  man  that  comes  into  the  world,  that  all, 
through  him,  might  believe  ;  and  he  that  doth  not  believe 
in  the  offering,  is  condemned  already." — P.  63.  1659. 

In  the  year  1668,  the  Society  of  Friends  issued  a  tract, 
entitled  "  An  Epistle  from  the  people  in  scorn  called 
Quakers,  for  all  people  upon  the  earth  to  read  over,  that 
they  may  see  what  the  people  called  Quakers  hold,  con- 
cerning God,  Christ,  his  death,  his  resurrection,  his  blood, 
his  offering,  redemption,  salvation,  justification,  faith  and 
hope."  This  Epistle  was  drawn  up  by  George  Fox  and 
Ellis  Hookes,  as  appears  by  Whiting's  Catalogue,  p.  58. 
Ellis  Hookes  was  a  citizen  of  London,  and  the  clerk  of 
the  yearly  meeting  of  Friends,  held  in  1675,  and  the  au- 
thor of  several  valuable  treatises.  The  following  extract 
is  taken  from  the  Epistle,  viz. — 

"  Christ  Jesus  the  Emmanuel,  God  with  us  ;  whom  all 
the  angels  must  worship.  Christ  offered  himself  through 
the  Eternal  Spirit,  without  spot,  to  God  ;  and  by  his  blood 
purges  our  consciences  from  dead  works  to  serve  the 
living  God.  And  so  we  know  that  Christ,  by  one  offering, 
hath  for  ever  perfected  them  that  are  sanctified.  And  so 
as  people  walk  in  the  light,  they  have  fellowship  one  with 
another,  and  the  blood  of  Christ  cleanseth  from  all  sin. 
And  Christ,  who  his  own  self  bare  our  sins  in  his  body  on 
the  tree,  that  we  being  delivered  from  sin  should  live 
unto  righteousness — by  whose  stripes  you  are  healed. 
And  we,  being  justified  by  the  blood  of  Christ,  shall  be 
saved  from  wrath  through  him.  For  if  when  we  were 
enemies  we  were  reconciled  to  God  by  the  death  of  his 
Son,  much  more  being  reconciled,  we  shall  be  saved  by 
his  hfe.— Rom.  v.  8." 

From  the  Postscript  to  the  Epistle,  I  take  the  following, 
viz. — 

"  And  this  is  to  clear  us  from  all  those  pamphlets  which 
are  spread  and  scattered  up  and  down  among  people,  that 
we  should  deny  the  Godhead,  his  eternal  power,  or  his 
offering,  or  his  blood,  or  that  we  should  be  bought  vs'ith  a 
price.  For  it  pleased  the  Father  that  in  him  the  fulness 
of  the  Godhead  should  dwell  bodily  ;  and  the  Father,  and 
the  Son,  and  the  Spirit,  we  do  own.    And  so  let  all  stop 


64  ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


their  mouths  that  say  that  the  Quakers'  principles  are  hid 
till  now,  for  we  have  manifested  our  principles  both  in  our 
printed  books,  and  would  that  all  people  know  our  inside 
as  they  know  our  outside  :  and  we  do  know,  and  also 
others  know  it,  that  we  have  an  esteem  of  Christ's  suffer- 
ings and  death,  and  blood,  and  the  Scriptures  of  the  Pro- 
phets and  apostles,  more  than  any  other  people." 

George  Fox, 
Ellis  Hookes." 

In  an  Essay  entitled  the  "  Royal  Law  of  God  Revived," 
&;c.  he  says  : — 

"  And  further  saith  the  apostle  in  1  John  i.  1,2.  "  We 
have  an  advocate  with  the  Father,  Jesus  Christ  the 
righteous,  and  he  is  the  propitiation  for  our  sins,  and  not 
for  ours  only,  but  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world." 

"  Now  mark,  this  is  a  large  word  for  all  people  to  take 
notice  of,  that  Jesus  Christ  is  the  propitiation  for  the  sins  of 
the  whole  world.  Therefore  every  one  of  you,  in  your  own 
particulars,  know  this,  that  Christ  Jesus,  who  is  crowned 
w^ith  glory  and  honour,  did  taste  death  for  every  man  ; 
mark,  for  every  man  ;  and  whosoever  denies  this  doctrine 
is  an  antichrist  ;  and  preaches  another,  is  a  false  preacher 
and  seducer,  and  brings  people  to  trouble  and  loss,  from 
that  which  is  right,  and  their  due,  in  which  is  their  satis- 
faction :  so  these  are  universal  things  to  all  mankind, 
whereby  all  mankind  might  come  out  of  the  earthly  old 
Adam,  in  the  fall  and  transgression,  to  him  that  hath  died 
for  them  all,  and  purchased  them  all,  and  tasted  death  for 
all,  and  enlightened  them  all,  and  gave  his  grace  to  them 
all ;  and  he  willeth  that  all  might  be  saved,  and  come  to 
the  knowledge  of  the  truth  of  Christ,  who  doth  this :  And 
whoever  teacheth  another  doctrine,  brings  people  into 
sects  and  confusion,  to  destroy  one  another,  where  they 
have  not  natural  affections,  and  will  do  that  to  another, 
which  they  would  not  have  others  do  unto  them,  who 
break  the  bonds  thereby  of  civil  commerce  amongst  man- 
kind ;  and  the  religions,  ways  and  worships  of  all  such,  are 
no  worships,  religions,  nor  ways  to  God,  but  set  up  by  a 
dark,  peevish  spirit,  by  which  they  destroy  one  another, 
which  are  God's  creatures,  about  them  ;  all  which  come 
from  him  who  is  out  of  the  truth,  whom  Christ  came  to 
destroy."— Page  19.  1671. 


ON  THE  DIVIJnTY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.  65 

The  following  is  extracted  from  his  letter  to  the  gover- 
nor and  council  of  Barbadoes  : — 

"  Whereas,  many  scandalous  lies  and  slanders  have  been 
cast  upon  us,  to  render  us  odious  ;  as  that  we  deny  God, 
Christ  Jesus,  and  the  Scriptures  of  Truth,  &c.  This  is  to 
inform  you,  that  all  our  books  and  declarations,  which  for 
these  many  years  have  been  published  to  the  world,  clearly 
testify  the  contrary.  Yet  for  your  satisfaction,  we  now 
plainly  and  sincerely  declare — 

"  That  we  own  and  believe  in  the  Only,  Wise,  Omnipo- 
tent, and  Everlasting  God,  the  Creator  of  all  things  in 
Heaven  and  earth,  and  the  Preserver  of  all  that  he  hath 
made  ;  who  is  God  over  all  blessed  for  ever,  to  whom  be 
all  honour,  glory,  dominion,  praise,  and  thanksgiving,  both 
now  and  for  evermore  ! 

"  And  we  own  and  believe  in  Jesus  Christ,  his  beloved 
and  only  begotten  Son,  in  whom  he  is  well  pleased,  who 
was  conceived  by  the  Holy  Ghost  and  born  of  the  V  irgin 
Mary  ;  in  whom  we  have  redemption  through  his  blood, 
even  the  forgiveness  of  sins  ;  who  is  the  express  image  of 
the  invisible  God,  the  First  Born  of  every  creature ;  by 
whom  were  all  things  created  that  are  in  Heaven  and  in 
earth,  visible  and  invisible,  whether  they  be  thrones, 
dominions,  principalities,  or  powers,  all  things  were  created 
by  Him. 

"  And  we  own  and  believe,  that  he  was  made  a  sacrifice 
for  sin,  who  knew  no  sin ;  neither  was  guile  found  in  his 
mouth  ;  that  he  was  crucified  for  us,  in  the  flesh,  without 
the  gates  of  Jerusalem;  and  that  he  was  buried  and  rose 
again  the  third  day,  by  the  power  of  his  Father,  for  our 
justification,  and  that  he  ascended  up  into  Heaven,  and 
now  sitteth  at  the  right  hand  of  God. 

"  This  Jesus,  who  was  the  foundation  of  the  holy  pro- 
phets and  apostles,  is  our  foundation  ;  and  we  believe 
there  is  no  other  foundation  to  be  laid,  but  that  which  is  - 
laid,  even  Christ  Jesus,  who  tasted  death  for  every  man, 
shed  his  blood  for  all  men ;  is  the  propitiation  for  our 
sins,  and  not  for  ours  only,  but  also  for  the  sins  of  the 
whole  world :  according  as  John  the  Baptist  testified  of 
him,  when  he  said,  '  Behold  the  Lamb  of  God  that  taketh 
away  the  sins  of  the  world.'  John  i.  29. 

"  W e  believe  that  He  alone  is  our  Redeemer  and  Sa- 
viour, the  Captain  of  our  Salvation,  who  saves  us  from 

6* 


66  ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHEIST. 


sin,  as  well  as  from  Hell  and  the  wrath  to  conne,  and 
destroys  the  devil  and  his  works ;  He  is  the  seed  of  the 
woman,  that  bruises  the  serpent's  head,  viz.  Christ  Jesus, 
the  Alpha  and  Omega,  the  first  and  the  last.  He  is,  as 
the  Scriptures  of  truth  say  of  him,  our  wisdom,  righteous- 
ness, justification  and  redemption ;  neither  is  there  salva- 
tion in  any  other,  for  there  is  no  other  name  under  heaven, 
given  among  men,  whereby  we  may  be  saved.  He  alone 
is  the  Shepherd  and  Bishop  of  our  souls :  He  is  our  Prophet 
whom  Moses  long  since  testified  of,  saying,  '  A  Prophet 
shall  the  Lord  your  God  raise  up  unto  you,  of  your  brethren 
like  unto  me  ;  Him  shall  ye  hear  in  all  things,  whatsoever 
He  shall  say  unto  you  :  and  it  shall  come  to  pass  that 
every  soul  that  will  not  hear  that  Prophet,  shall  be  destroyed 
from  among  the  people.'    Acts  ii.  22,  23. 

"He  is  now  come  in  Spirit,  'and  hath  given  us  an 
understanding  that  we  know  him  that  is  true.'  He  rules 
in  our  hearts  by  his  law  of  love  and  life,  and  makes  us 
free  from  the  law  of  sin  and  death.  We  have  no  life  but 
by  him,  for  he  is  the  quickening  Spirit,  the  second  Adam, 
the  Lord  from  Heaven,  by  whose  blood  we  are  cleansed 
and  our  consciences  sprinkled  from  dead  works  to  serve 
the  living  God.  He  is  our  Mediator,  who  makes  peace 
and  reconciliation  between  God  offended,  and  us  offend- 
ing. He  being  the  Oath  of  God,  the  new  covenant  of 
light,  life,  grace  and  peace,  the  author  and  finisher  of  our 
faith.  This  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  heavenly  Man,  the 
Immanuel,  God  with  us,  we  all  own  and  believe  in ;  He 
whom  the  High  Priest  raged  against,  and  said  he  had 
spoken  blasphemy ;  whom  the  priests  and  elders  of  the 
Jews  took  counsel  together  against,  and  put  to  death  the 
same  whom  Judas  betrayed  for  thirty  pieces  of  silver, 
w^hich  the  priests  gave  him,  as  a  reward  for  his  treason ; 
who  also  gave  large  money  to  the  soldiers,  to  broach  a 
horrible  lie,  namely,  that  his  disciples  came  and  stole  him 
away  by  night,  whilst  they  slept.  After  he  was  risen  from 
the  dead,  the  history  of  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles  sets  forth, 
how  the  chief  priests  and  elders  persecuted  the  disciples 
of  this  Jesus,  for  preaching  Christ  and  his  resurrection. 
This,  we  say,  is  that  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  whom  we  own  to 
be  our  life  and  salvation."  P.  145,  146,  Journal,  vol.  ii. 
 1673. 

In  his  "  Answer  to  all  such  as  falsely  say,  the  Quakers 


ON  THE  DIVirsITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.  67 

are  no  Christians,"  written  from  Worcester  Prison,  and 
printed  in  the  year  1682,  he  has  the  following  declaration, 
viz. — 

"  And  Christ  hath  purchased  his  church  with  his  own 
blood,  Acts  XX.  28.  '  And  we  give  thanks  unto  the  Father, 
which  hath  made  us  meet  to  be  partakers  of  the  inherit- 
ance of  the  saints  in  light,  who  hath  delivered  us  from  the 
power  of  darkness,  and  hath  translated  us  into  the  king- 
dom of  his  dear  Son,  in  whom  we  have  redemption  through 
his  blood,  that  is,  the  forgiveness  of  sins;  who  is  the  image 
of  the  invisible  God,  the  first  begotten  of  every  creature ; 
for  by  him  w^ere  all  things  created,  which  are  in  heaven,  and 
which  are  in  earth,  things  visible  and  invisible,  whether 
they  be  thrones,  dominions,  principalities,  or  powers,  all 
things  w^ere  created  by  him  and  for  him ;  and  he  is  before 
all  things ;  and  in  him,  and  by  him,  all  things  consist ; 
and  he  is  the  Head  of  the  body,  (the  church,)  who  is  the 
beginning,  and  the  first  begotten  from  the  dead,  that  in  all 
things  he  might  have  the  pre-eminence ;  for  it  pleased  the 
Father,  that  in  him  should  all  fulness  dwell.'  Col.  i.  And 
hxiany  other  Scriptures  we  might  bring,  which  do  prove 
that  Christ  is  the  Head  of  the  church. 

"  And  Christ  saith,  all  powder  in  heaven  and  in  earth  is 
given  to  me.  Matt,  xxviii.  18.  And  we  know  that  the  Son 
of  God  is  come,  and  hath  given  us  an  understanding,  that 
we  may  know  him  that  is  true,  and  w^e  are  in  him  that  is 
true,  even  in  his  Son  Jesus  Christ ;  this  is  the  true  God, 
and  eternal  life,  1  John  v.  20.  And  Christ  and  the  apostles 
in  their  days,  did  not  set  up  one  man  to  be  pope  (nor  set 
a  triple  crown  on  his  head)  to  be  Christ's  vicar  and  vice- 
gerent upon  earth,  nor  set  him  above  the  apostles,  (^c. : 
but  on  the  contrary,  Christ  said,  it  was  the  gentiles  that 
exercised  lordship,  and  are  called  gracious  lords  ;  but  said 
Christ,  he  that  will  be  the  greatest  among  you,  let  him  be 
servant  unto  all :  not  pope  or  lord  over  all,  but  servant 
unto  all.  And  Christ  gave  the  keys  and  power,  to  others 
of  his  disciples,  as  well  as  Peter,  to  bind  and  loose,  Matt, 
xviii.  19.  And  so  Christ  prayed  for  all  his  disciples  and 
followers,  that  God  had  given  him,  that  he  would  keep 
them  from  the  evil  of  the  w^orld ;  and  not  only  for  Peter, 
as  may  be  seen  in  John  xvii.  9.  And  we  own  the  Father, 
the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  as  the  apostles  have  declared. 

"  When  the  fulness  of  time  was  come,  God  sent  forth 


68  ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 

his  Son,  made  of  a  woman,  made  under  the  law,  that  he 
might  redeem  them  that  were  under  the  law,  that  we 
might  receive  the  adoption  of  sons.  Gal.  iv.  4,  5.  And  by 
the  grace  of  God,  Christ  tasted  death  for  every  man,  Heb. 

11.  9.  And  how  that  Christ  died  for  our  sins,  according  to 
the  Scriptures ;  and  that  he  was  buried,  and  rose  again, 
according  to  the  Scriptures,  1  Cor.  xv.  3,  4.  For  other 
foundation  can  no  man  lay  than  that  is  laid,  Jesus  Christ, 
1  Cor.  iii.  11.  And  so  we  believe  those  things  which  God 
before  hath  showed,  by  the  mouth  of  all  his  prophets,  that 
Christ  should  suffer;  and  he  hath  thus  fulfilled  it,  and  is 
risen  from  the  dead,  and  is  at  the  right  hand  of  God,  who 
is  alive  again,  and  lives  for  evermore ;  and  will  reward 
every  man  according  to  his  deeds,  and  is  the  Judge  both 
of  the  quick  and  dead,  and  his  sheep  now  hear  his  voice, 
and  follow  him,  as  in  the  apostles'  days.  Acts  iii.  Rev.  i. 
1 8.  Neither  is  there  salvation  in  any  other  than  in  the 
name  of  Jesus ;  for  there  is  none  other  name  given  under 
heaven  among  men,  whereby  we  must  be  saved.  Acts  iv. 

12.  And  without  controversy,  great  is  the  mystery  of  god- 
liness, God  manifested  in  the  flesh,  justified  in  the  spirit, 
seen  of  angels,  preached  unto  the  gentiles,  believed  on  in 
the  world,  and  received  up  into  glory,  1  Tim.  iii.  IG." 

"  And  in  the  fulness  of  time,  according  to  the  promise  of 
the  Father,  Christ  was  manifested  in  the  flesh,  and  by  the 
grace  of  God,  tasted  death  for  every  man,  as  before ;  is 
risen,  and  ascended,  and  sits  on  the  right  hand  of  God  in 
heaven,  and  is  the  only  Mediator  between  God  and  man  ; 
and  that  he  exercises  his  prophetical,  kingly,  and  priestly 
oflice,  now  in  his  church,  and  also  his  offices,  as  a  Coun- 
sellor and  Leader,  Bishop,  Shepherd  and  Mediator :  he  (to 
wit)  the  Son  of  God,  he  exercises  these  oftices,  in  his 
household  of  faith,  whose  house  we  are,  that  are  believers 
in  the  light,  and  by  faith  engrafted  into  Christ,  the  Word, 
by  whom  all  things  were  made ;  and  so  are  heirs  of  eter- 
nal life,  being  elected  in  him  before  the  world  began.  And 
we  do  not  matter  if  this  Jewish  spirit  saith  now  of  us,  as 
it  did  formerly  of  the  followers  of  Christ,  that  none  but 
accursed  people  followed  him,  that  knew  not  the  law :  and 
if  you  say  as  Nathaniel  said,  John  i.  46.  can  there  any 
good  thing  come  out  of  Nazareth?  Y^e  say  with  Philip, 
come  and  see.""— Pages  26,  27,  23.  1682. 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.  69 

In  a  paper  which  he  wrote,  "Concerning  the  true 
Church,"  &LC.  he  says — 

"  Christ  took  upon  him  the  seed  of  Abraham  ;  he  doth 
not  say  the  corrupt  seed  of  the  gentiles ;  so,  according  to 
the  flesh,  he  was  of  the  holy  seed  of  Abraham  and  David, 
and  his  holy  body  and  blood  was  an  offering  and  a  sacri- 
fice for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world,  as  a  Lamb  without 
blemish,  whose  flesh  saw  no  corruption.  By  the  one  offer- 
ing of  himself,  in  the  new  testament,  or  new  covenant,  he 
has  put  an  end  to  all  the  offerings  and  sacrifices,  amongst 
the  Jews  in  the  old  testament.  Christ,  the  holy  Seed,  was 
crucified,  dead,  and  buried,  according  to  the  flesh,  and 
raised  again  the  third  day,  and  his  flesh  saw  no  corruption. 
Though  he  was  crucified  in  the  flesh,  yet  quickened  again 
by  the  spirit,  and  is  alive,  and  liveth  for  evermore,  and 
hath  all  power  in  heaven  and  earth  given  to  him,  and 
reigneth  over  all,  and  is  the  one  Mediator  between  God 
and  man,  even  the  man  Christ  Jesus." — Journal,  vol.  ii.  p. 
384.  1686. 

The  following  extracts  from  Tuke's  Selections  from  the 
Epistles  of  George  Fox,  will  confirm  the  foregoing  :  viz. — 

From  an  epistle  written  in  1653 — 

"  The  glorious  hght  is  shining,  the  immortal  is  bringing 
forth  out  of  death  ;  the  prisoners  have  hope  of  their  par- 
don, the  debt  being  paid,  and  they  freely  purchased  by 
Christ's  blood  :  and  He  is  come  into  the  prison  houses ; 
the  prisoners  begin  to  sing  in  hope  of  their  eternal  free- 
dom, leaping  for  joy  of  heart,  and  the  dumb  tongue  shall 
sing  praises." 

1662.  "  So  bring  them  to  the  great  Sacrifice,  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  the  seed  of  the  woman,  who  offered  up  him- 
self for  the  sin  of  the  world,  the  Top  Stone  which  is  laid 
over  all,  who  is  restoring  by  his  power,  who  hath  all 
power  in  heaven  and  earth." 

1673.  "And  there  is  no  salvation  by  any  other  name 
under  heaven,  but  by  the  name  of  Jesus,  which  signifies  a 
Saviour.  And  in  his  name  keep  your  men's  and  women's, 
and  all  your  other  meetings,  that  you  may  feel  him  in  the 
midst  of  you  exercising  his  ofiices,  as  He  is  a  Prophet 
whom  God  has  raised  up  to  open  to  you  ;  and  as  He  is  a 
Shepherd,  who  has  laid  down  his  fife  for  you,  to  feed  you, 
so  hear  his  voice  ;  and  as  He  is  a  Counsellor  and  a  Com- 
mander, follow  Him  and  his  counsel ;  and  also  as  He  is  a 


70         ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 

Bishop  to  oversee  you  with  his  heavenly  power  and  spirit ; 
and  as  He  is  a  Priest,  who  offered  up  himself  for  you,  who 
is  made  higher  than  the  heavens,  who  sanctifies  his  people, 
his  church,  and  presents  them  to  God,  without  blemish, 
spot,  or  wrinkle  :  so  I  say,  know  Him  in  all  his  offices,  ex- 
ercising them  amongst  you  and  in  you." 

1676.  "  So  every  true  believer  will  confess  to  Christ, 
his  salvation,  his  way,  light  and  life,  out  of  death  and  dark- 
ness ;  his  Prophet  to  open  to  him,  his  Captain  and  Com- 
mander, to  command  and  to  lead  him  ;  his  Counsellor,  to 
counsel  him  ;  and  his  Priest,  who  hath  offered  himself  for 
him,  and  who  sanctifies  him,  and  offers  him  up  to  God ;  to 
whom  be  all  praise  and  glory  for  ever.  Amen." 

So  important  and  essential  did  George  Fox  consider  the 
knowledge  and  belief  of  the  coming  and  offices  of  our 
Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  that  he  exhorted  his  friends 
in  America  to  impress  them  on  the  minds  of  the  native 
Indians  as  well  as  the  negroes  under  their  care.  This  will 
appear  from  the  following  extract  of  an  epistle,  written  by 
him  in  1679,  viz. — 

"  And  also  you  must  instruct  and  teach  your  Indians 
and  negroes,  and  all  others,  how  that  Christ,  by  the  grace 
of  God,  tasted  death  for  every  man,  and  gave  himself  a 
ransom  for  all  men,  to  be  tesified  in  due  time,  and  is  the 
propitiation,  not  for  the  sins  of  Christians  only,  but  for  the 
sins  of  the  whole  world  ;  and  how  that  he  doth  enlighten 
every  man  that  cometh  into  the  world  with  his  true  light, 
which  is  the  life  in  Christ,  by  whom  the  world  was  made." 

Again  in  1687,  "  And  if  sometimes  you  should  have 
some  meetings  with  the  Indian  kings,  and  their  councils, 
to  let  them  know  the  principles  of  truth  ;  so  that  they  may 
know  the  way  of  salvation,  and  the  nature  of  true  Christi- 
anity, and  how  that  Christ  hath  died  for  them,  who  tasted 
death  for  every  man ;  and  so  the  gospel  of  salvation  must 
be  preached  to  every  creature  under  heaven  ;  and  how 
that  Christ  hath  enlightened  them,  who  enlightens  all  that 
come  into  the  world." 

The  following  is  a  beautiful  specimen  of  the  Christian 
consolation  which  he  administered  to  his  persecuted  and 
suffering  brethren  : — 

"  If  the  world  do  persecute  you,  and  take  away  your 
goods  or  clothes,  was  not  your  Lord  and  Master  so  served  ? 
Did  not  they  cast  lots  for  his  garments  ?  Was  not  he  haled 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


71 


from  the  priests  to  Herod,  and  before  Pontius  Pilate,  and 
spit  upon  ?  And  if  thej  hate  thee,  and  spit  upon  thee,  He 
was  hated  and  spit  upon  for  thee.  Did  He  not  go  to  pri- 
son for  thee,  and  was  he  not  mocked  and  scourged  for 
thee  \  Did  not  He  bow  to  the  cross  and  grave  for  thee. 
He  who  had  no  sin,  neither  w^as  guile  found  in  his  mouth  ? 
And  did  He  not  bear  thy  sins  in  his  own  body  upon  the 
tree;  and  was  He  not  scourged  for  thee,  by  whose  stripes 
we  are  healed  ?  Did  not  He  suffer  the  contradiction  of 
sinners,  who  died  for  sinners,  and  went  into  the  grave  for 
sinners,  and  died  for  the  ungodly,  yea,  tasted  death  for 
every  man ;  who  through  death  destroyed  death,  and  the 
devil,  the  power  of  death,  and  is  risen — for  death  and  the 
grave  could  not  hold  him,  and  the  powers  and  principali- 
ties, with  all  their  guards  and  watches,  could  not  hold  him 
within  the  grave — but  he  is  risen  ;  and  is  ascended  far 
above  all  principalities,  powers,  thrones  and  dominions, 
and  is  set  down  at  the  right  hand  of  God,  and  remaineth 
in  the  heavens  till  all  things  be  restored  :  and  He  is  restor- 
ing with  his  light,  grace,  truth,  power,  spirit,  faith,  gospel, 
and  word  of  life,  so  that  you  read  of  some  that  came  to 
sit  together  in  heavenly  places  in  Christ  Jesus." 


ROBERT  BARCLAY, 

In  his  Catechism,  after  reciting  several  passages  of  Scrip- 
ture, which  testify  to  the  appearance  of  Christ  in  the  flesh 
and  his  pre-existence,  proceeds  : — 

"  Question.  These  are  very  clear,  that  even  the  w^orld 
was  created  by  Christ :  but  what  scriptures  prove  the  di- 
vinity of  Christ  against  such  as  falsely  deny  the  same  ? 

"  Answer. — And  the  Word  was  God.  Whose  are  the 
fathers,  and  of  whom,  as  concerning  the  flesh,  Christ  came 
who  is  over  all,  God  blessed  for  ever.  Amen.  Who  being 
in  the  form  of  God,  thought  it  no  robbery  to  be  equal  with 
God.  And  we  know^  that  the  Son  of  God  is  come,  and 
hath  given  us  an  understanding,  that  we  may  know  him 
that  is  true,  and  we  are  in  him  that  is  true,  even  in  his 
Son  Jesus  Christ ;  this  is  the  true  God  and  eternal  life." 
Page  8. 

"  Question. — After  what  manner  doth  the  Scripture 


72  ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 

assert  the  conjunction  and  unity  of  the  eternal  Son  of 
God,  in  and  with  the  nian  Christ  Jesus  ? 

"  Answer. — And  the  Word  was  made  flesh,  and  dwelt 
among  us,  (and  we  beheld  his  glory,  the  glory  as  of  the 
only  begotten  of  the  Father,)  full  of  grace  and  truth.  For 
he  whom  God  hath  sent,  speaketh  the  words  of  God;  for 
God  giveth  not  the  Spirit  by  measure  unto  him.  How 
God  anointed  Jesus  of  Nazareth  with  the  Holy  Ghost  and 
with  power,  who  went  about  doing  good,  and  healing  all 
that  were  oppressed  of  the  devil ;  for  God  was  with  him. 
For  it  pleased  the  Father  that  in  him  should  all  fulness 
dwell.  For  in  him  dwelleth  all  the  fulness  of  the  Godhead 
bodily.  In  him  are  hid  all  the  treasures  of  wisdom  and 
knowledge."— Page  10.  1673. 

In  his  Confession  of  Faith,  he  has  the  following: — 

"  Article  4th. — Concerning  the  divinity  of  Christ,  and 
his  being  from  the  beginning. 

"  In  the  beginning  was  the  Word,  and  the  Word  was 
with  God,  and  the  Word  was  God.  The  same  was  in  the 
beginning  with  God.  All  things  were  made  by  him,  and 
without  him  was  not  any  thing  made  that  was  made. 
Whose  goings  forth  have  been  from  of  old,  from  everlast- 
ing. For  God  created  all  things  by  Jesus  Christ.  Who 
being  in  the  form  of  God,  thought  it  no  robbery  to  be  equal 
with  God.  And  his  name  is  called  Wonderful,  Counsellor, 
the  mighty  God,  the  everlasting  Father,  the  Prince  of 
peace.  Who  is  the  image  of  the  invisible  God,  the 
First-Born  of  every  creature.  The  Brightness  of  the 
Father's  glory,  and  the  express  image  of  his  substance. 
Who  was  clothed  with  a  vesture  dipped  in  blood,  and  his 
name  is  called  the  Word  of  God.  In  him  dwells  all  the 
fulness  of  the  Godhead  bodily,  and  in  him  are  all  the 
treasures  of  wisdom  and  knowledge. 

"  Article  5th. — Concerning  his  appearance  in  the  flesh. 

"  The  Word  was  made  flesh.  For  he  took  not  on  him 
the  nature  of  angels,  but  he  took  on  him  the  seed  of  Abra- 
ham, being  in  all  things  made  like  unto  his  brethren. 
Touched  with  a  feeling  of  our  infirmities,  and  in  all  things 
tempted  like  as  we  are,  yet  without  sin.  He  died  for  our 
sins,  according  to  the  Scriptures,  and  he  was  buried,  and  he 
rose  again  the  third  day,  according  to  the  Scriptures. 

"  Article  6th. — Concerning  the  end  and  use  of  that  ap- 
pearance. 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.  73 

"  God  sent  his  own  Son  in  the  likeness  of  sinful  flesh, 
and  for  sin,  condemned  sin  in  the  flesh.  For  this  purpose 
the  Son  of  God  was  manifested,  that  he  might  destroy  the 
works  of  the  devil,  being  manifested  to  take  away  our  sins. 
For  he  gave  himself  for  us,  an  offering  and  a  sacrifice  to 
God  for  a  sweet  smelling  savour,  having  obtained  eternal 
redemption  for  us.  And  through  the  eternal  Spirit,  offer- 
ed up  himself  without  spot  unto  God,  to  purge  our  con- 
sciences from  dead  works,  to  serve  the  living  God.  He 
was  the  Lamb  that  was  slain  from  the  foundation  of  the 
world,  of  whom  the  fathers  did  all  drink,  for  they  drank 
of  that  spiritual  Rock  that  followed  them,  and  that  Rock 
was  Christ.  Christ  also  suffered  for  us,  leaving  us  an  ex- 
ample, that  W'C  should  follow  his  steps.  For  we  are  to 
bear  about  in  the  body  the  dying  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  that 
the  life  also  of  Jesus  might  be  made  manifest  in  our  body ; 
being  alway  delivered  unto  death  for  Jesus'  sake,  that 
the  life  also  of  Jesus  may  be  made  manifest  in  our  flesh. 
That  we  may  know  him  and  the  power  of  his  resurrec- 
tion, and  the  fellowship  of  his  sufferings,  being  made  con- 
formable to  his  death.''— P.  106,  &c.  1673. 

From  his  "  Apology  for  the  true  Christian  divinity,"  I 
extract  the  following,  viz. — 

"  For  the  infinite,  and  most  wise  God,  who  is  the  foun- 
dation, root,  and  spring  of  all  operation,  hath  wrought  all 
things  by  his  eternal  Word  and  Son.  This  is  that  Word 
that  was  in  the  beginning  with  God,  and  w^as  God,  by 
whom  all  things  w^ere  made,  and  without  w^hom  was  not 
any  thing  made  that  was  made.  This  is  that  Jesus  Christ, 
by  whom  God  created  all  things,  by  whom  and  for  whom 
all  things  were  created  that  are  in  heaven,  and  in  earth, 
visible  and  invisible,  whether  they  be  thrones,  or  domi- 
nions, or  principalities,  or  powers,  Coloss.  i.  16.  Who 
therefore  is  called  the  First-Born  of  every  creature.  Col.  i. 
15.  As  then  that  infinite  and  incomprehensible  fountain 
of  life  and  motion  operateth  in  the  creatures  by  his  own 
eternal  word  and  power,  so  no  creature  has  access  again 
unto  him  but  in  and  by  the  Son,  according  to  his  ow^n  ex- 
press words,  '  No  man  knoweth  the  Father  but  the  Son, 
and  he  to  whom  the  Son  will  reveal  him,'  Matt.  xi.  27. 
Luke  X.  22.  And  again  he  himself  saith,  '  I  am  the  way, 
the  truth,  and  the  life  :  No  man  cometh  unto  the  Father 
but  by  me,'  John  xiv.  6. 
7 


74  ON  THE  DIVIMTY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 

"  Hence  he  is  fitly  called  the  Mediator  betwixt  God  and 
man :  for  having  been  with  God  froni  all  eternit}^  being 
himself  God,  and  also  in  time,  partaking  of  the  nature  of 
man,  through  him,  is  the  goodness  and  love  of  God  convey- 
ed to  mankind,  and  by  him  again,  man  receiveth  and  par- 
taketh  of  these  mercies." — Apology,  p.  27. 

After  spiking  at  large  of  the  Holy  Spirit  of  Christ, 
wherewith  all  men  are  enlightened  for  their  redemption 
and  salvation,  he  adds — 

"  But  by  this,  as  we  do  not  at  all  intend  to  equal  ourselves 
to  that  Holy  Man,  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  was  born  of 
the  virgin  Mary,  in  whom  all  the  fulness  of  the  Godhead 
dwelt  bodily ;  so  neither  do  we  destroy  the  reality  of  his 
present  existence,  as  some  have  falsely  calumniated  us. 
For  though  we  affirm  that  Christ  dwells  in  us,  yet  not  im- 
mediately, but  mediately,  as  he  is  in  that  seed  which  is  in 
us  ;  whereas  he,  to  wit,  the  Eternal  Word,  which  was  with 
God,  and  was  God,  dwelt  immediately  in  that  Holy  Man. 
He  then  is  as  the  head,  and  we  as  the  members  ;  he  the 
vine,  and  we  the  branches.  Now  as  the  soul  of  man 
dwells  otherwise,  and  in  a  far  more  immediate  manner 
in  the  head  and  in  the  heart,  than  in  the  hands  or  legs ; 
and  as  the  sap,  virtue  and  life  of  the  vine,  lodgeth  far 
otherwise  in  the  stock  and  root,  than  in  the  branches,  so 
God  dwelleth  otherwise  in  the  man  Jesus  than  in  us.  We 
also  freely  reject  the  heresy  of  Appollinarius,  who  <lenied 
him  to  have  any  soul,  but  said  the  body  was  only  actuated 
by  the  Godliead.  As  also  the  error  of  Eutyches,  who 
made  the  manhood  to  be  wholly  swallowed  up  of  the  God- 
head. Wherefore,  as  we  believe  he  w-as  a  true  and  real 
man,  so  we  also  believe  that  he  continues  so  to  be  glori- 
fied in  the  heavens,  in  soul  and  body,  by  whom  God  shall 
judge  the  world,  in  the  great  and  general  day  of  judg- 
ment."— Apology,  p.  139. 

After  largely  enforcing  the  sufficiency  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
of  Christ,  and  the  necessity  of  obedience  thereto  in  order 
to  salvation,  he  writes  thus,  viz. 

"  We  do  not  hereby  intend,  any  ways,  to  lessen  or 
derogate  from  the  atonement  and  sacrifice  of  Jesus 
Christ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  do  magnify  and  exalt  it. 
For  as  we  believe  all  those  things  to  have  been  certainly 
transacted,  which  are  recorded  in  the  Holy  Scriptures, 
concerning  the  birth,  life,  miracles,  sufferings,  resurrection, 
and  ascension  of  Christ;  so  we  do  also  believe,  that  it  is 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OP  JESUS  CHRIST.  75 


the  duty  of  every  one  to  believe  it,  to  whom  it  pleases  God 
to  reveal  the  same,  and  to  bring  to  them  the  knowledge  of 
it ;  yea,  we  believe  it  were  damnable  unbelief,  not  to  be- 
lieve it,  when  so 'declared;  but  to  resist  that  holy  seed, 
which  as  minded  would  lead  and  inchne  every  one  to  be- 
lieve it,  as  it  is  offered  unto  them  ;  though  it  revealeth  not 
in  every  one,  the  outward  and  explicit  knowledge  of  it, 
nevertheless  it  always  assenteth  to  it,  where  it  is  declared. 
Nevertheless,  as  we  firmly  believe  it  was  necessary,  that 
Christ  should  come,  that  by  his  death  and  sufferings  he 
might  offer  up  himself  a  sacrifice  to  God  for  our  sins,  who 
his  own  self  bare  our  sins  in  his  own  body  on  the  tree,  so 
we  believe  that  the  remission  of  sins  which  any  partake  of, 
is  only  in  and  by  virtue  of  that  most  satisfactory  sacrifice, 
and  no  otherwise.  For  it  is  by  the  obedience  of  that  one, 
that  the  free  gift  is  come  upon  all,  to  justification. 

For  we  affirm, that  as  all  men  partake  of  the  fruit  of  Adam's 
fall,  in  that,  by  reason  of  that  evil  seed,  which,  through  him,  is 
communicated  unto  them,  they  are  prone  and  inclined  unto 
evil,  though  thousands  of  thousands  be  ignorant  of  Adam's 
fall,  neither  ever  knew  of  the  eating  of  the  forbidden  fruit ; 
so  also  many  may  come  to  feel  the  influence  of  this  holy 
and  divine  seed  and  light,  and  be  turned  from  evil  to  good 
by  it,  though  they  knew  nothing  of  Christ's  coming  in  the 
flesh,  through  whose  obedience  and  sufferings  it  is  pur- 
chased unto  them.  And  as  we  affirm  it  is  absoluteiy  need- 
ful, that  those  do  believe  the  history  of  Christ's  outward 
appearance,  whom  it  pleased  God  to  bring  to  the  know- 
ledge of  it ;  so  we  do  freely  confess,  that  even  that  out- 
ward knowledge  is  very  comfortable  to  such  as  are  subject 
to,  and  led  by,  the  inward  seed  and  light.  For  not  only 
doth  the  sense  of  Christ's  love  and  sufferings  tend  to  hum- 
ble them,  but  they  are  thereby  also  strengthened  in  their 
faith,  and  encouraged  to  follow  that  excellent  pattern, 
which  he  hath  left  us,  who  suffered  for  us,  as  saith  the 
apostle  Peter,  1  Pet.  ii.  21.  leaving  us  an  example  that  we 
should  follow  his  steps  :  and  many  times  we  are  greatly 
edified  and  refreshed,  with  the  gracious  sayings  which  pro- 
ceed out  of  his  mouth. 

The  history  then  is  profitable  and  comfortable  with  the 
mystery,  and  never  without  it;  but  the  mystery  is,  and 
may  be  profitable,  without  the  explicit  and  outward  know- 
ledge of  the  history, "—Pages  155,  156. 


76 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


"  First  then,  as  by  the  explanation  of  the  former  thesis 
appears,  we  renounce  all  natural  power  and  ability  in  our- 
selves, in  order  to  bring  us  out  of  our  lost  and  fallen  con- 
dition, and  first  nature ;  and  confess,  that  as  of  ourselves 
we  are  able  to  do  nothing  that  is  good,  so  neither  can  we 
procure  remission  of  sins  or  justification  by  any  act  of  our 
own,  so  as  to  merit  it,  or  draw  it  as  a  debt  from  God  due 
unto  us,  but  we  acknowledge  all  to  be  of  and  from  his  love, 
which  is  the  original  and  fundamental  cause  of  our  accept- 
ance. 

"  Secondly: — God  manifested  this  love  towards  us  in  the 
sending  of  his  beloved  Son,  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  into  the 
world;  who  gave  himself  for  us,  an  offering  and  a  sacrifice 
to  God,  for  a  sweet  smelling  savour ;  and  having  made 
peace  through  the  blood  of  his  cross,  that  he  might  recon- 
cile us  unto  himself,  and  by  the  Eternal  Spirit,  offered  him- 
self without  spot  unto  God,  and  suffered  for  our  sins,  the 
just  for  the  unjust,  that  he  might  bring  us  unto  God. 

"  Thirdly  then.  Forasmuch  as  all  men  who  have  come 
to  man's  estate,  (the  man  Jesus  only  excepted,)  have  sin- 
ned, therefore  all  have  need  of  this  Saviour,  to  remove  the 
wrath  of  God  from  them,  due  to  their  offences  :  in  this 
respect  he  is  truly  said  to  have  borne  the  iniquities  of  us 
all,  in  his  body  on  the  tree,  and  therefore  is  the  only  Me- 
diator, having  qualified  the  wrath  of  God  towards  us ;  so 
that  our  former  sins  stand  not  in  our  way,  being,  by  virtue 
of  his  most  satisfactory  sacrifice,  removed  and  pardoned. 
Neither  do  we  think  that  remission  of  sins  is  to  be  expect- 
ed, sought,  or  obtained,  any  other  way,  or  by  any  works  or 
sacrifice  whatsoever,  though,  as  has  been  said  formerly, 
they  may  come  to  partake  of  this  remission,  that  are  igno- 
rant of  the  history.  So  then,  Christ,  by  his  death  and  suf- 
ferings, hath  reconciled  us  to  God,  even  while  we  are  ene- 
mies ;  that  is,  he  offers  reconciliation  unto  us ;  we  are  put 
into  a  capacity  of  being  reconciled  ;  God  is  wilhng  to  for- 
give us  our  iniquities,  and  to  accept  us,  as  is  well  expressed 
by  the  apostle,  2  Cor.  v.  19.  God  was  in  Christ,  recon- 
ciling the  world  unto  himself,  not  imputing  their  trespasses 
unto  them,  and  hath  put  in  us  the  word  of  reconciliation. 
And  therefore  the  apostle,  in  the  next  verses,  entreats  them 
in  Christ's  stead  to  be  reconciled  to  God;  intimating  that 
the  wrath  of  God  being  removed  by  the  obedience  of 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


Christ  Jesus,  he  is  willing  to  be  reconciled  unto  them,  and 
ready  to  remit  the  sins  that  are  past,  if  they  repent. 

"  We  consider,  then,  our  redemption  in  a  twofold  respect 
or  state,  both  which  in  their  own  nature  are  perfect,  though, 
in  their  application  to  us,  the  one  is  not,  nor  cannot  be,  with- 
out respect  to  the  other. 

"  The  first,  is  the  redemption  performed  and  accom- 
plished by  Christ  for  us,  in  his  crucified  body,  without  us  : 
the  other  is  the  redemption  wrought  by  Christ  in  us  ;  which 
no  less  properly  is  called  and  accounted  a  redemption  than 
the  former.  The  first,  then,  is  that,  whereby  a  man,  as  he 
stands  in  the  fall,  is  put  into  a  capacity  of  salvation,  and 
hath  conveyed  unto  him,  a  measure  of  that  power,  virtue, 
spirit,  life,  and  grace,  that  was  in  Christ  Jesus,  which,  as 
the  free  gift  of  God,  is  able  to  counterbalance,  overcome 
and  root  out  the  evil  seed,  wherew^ith  we  are  naturally,  as 
in  the  fall,  leavened. 

The  second  is  that,  w^hereby  we  witness  and  know^  this 
pure  and  perfect  redemption  in  ourselves,  purifj'ing,  cleans- 
ing, and  redeeming  us,  from  the  power  of  corruption,  and 
bringing  us  into  unity,  favour  and  friendship  with  God. 
By  the  first  of  these  two,  we  that  were  lost  in  Adam, 
plunged  into  the  bitter  and  corrupt  seed,  unable  of  our- 
selves to  do  any  good  thing,  but  naturally  joined  and  united 
to  evil,  forward  and  prepense  to  all  iniquity,  servants  and 
slaves  to  the  power  and  spirit  of  darkness,  are,  notwith- 
standing all  this,  so  far  reconciled  to  God,  by  the  death  of 
his  Son,  while  enemies,  that  we  are  put  into  a  capacity  of 
salvation,  having  the  glad  tidings  of  the  gospel  of  peace 
ofiered  unto  us,  and  God  is  reconciled  unto  us,  in  Christ ; 
calls  and  invites  us  to  himself;  in  w^hich  respect  we  under- 
stand these  scriptures,  '  He  slew  the  enmity  in  himself. 
He  loved  us  first;  seeing  us  in  our  blood,  he  said  unto  us, 
live:  He  who  did  not  sin,  his  own  self  bare  our  sins  in  his 
own  body  on  the  tree ;  and  he  died  for  our  sins,  the  just 
for  the  unjust.'  " — P.  202,  and  seq.  1676. 


WILLIAM  PENN. 

From  his  Tract  entitled  "  Innocency  with  her  open 
face,"  1  take  the  following  quotations,  viz. 

7* 


78 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


"  That  which  I  am  credibly  informed  to  be  the  greatest 
reason  for  my  imprisonment,  and  that  noise  of  blasphemy 
which  hath  pierced  so  many  ears  of  late,  is  my  denying 
the  divinity  of  Christ,  and  divesting  him  of  his  eternal 
Godhead  ;  which  most  busily  hath  been  suggested,  as  well 
to  those  in  authority,  as  maliciously  insinuated  amongst  the 
people."  He  then  enters  into  an  argument  of  considerable 
length  to  prove  the  Godhead  of  Jesus  Christ,  which  he  thus 
concludes : — "  In  short,  this  conclusive  argument  for  the 
proof  of  Christ,  the  Saviour's,  being  God,  should  certainly 
persuade  all  sober  persons  of  my  innocency,  and  my  adver- 
saries' mahce.  He  that  is  the  everlasting  Wisdom,  Divine 
Power,  the  true  Light,  the  only  Saviour,  the  creating  Word 
of  all  things,  whether  visible  or  invisible;  and  their  up- 
holder, by  his  own  power,  is  without  contradiction  God — 
but  all  these  qualifications  and  divine  properties,  are,  by 
the  concurrent  testimonies  of  Scripture,  ascribed  to  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ ;  therefore,  without  a  scruple,  I  call  and 
believe  him  really  to  be  the  mighty  God.  And  for  a  more 
ample  satisfaction,  let  but  my  reply  to  J.  Clapham  be 
perused,  in  which  Christ's  divinity  and  eternity  is  very 
fully  asserted."— Vol.  i.  p.  268.  1668. 

"And  (to  shut  up  my  apology  for  religious  matters)  that 
all  may  see  the  simplicity,  scripture  doctrine,  and  phrase 
of  my  faith,  in  the  most  important  matters  of  eternal  life,  I 
shall  here  subjoin  a  short  confession.  '  I  sincerely  own, 
and  unfeignedly  believe  (by  virtue  of  the  sound  knowledge 
and  experience  received  from  the  gift  of  that  holy  unction 
and  divine  grace  inspired  from  on  high)  in  one  holy,  just, 
merciful,  almighty  and  eternal  God  ;  who  is  the  Father  of 
all  things  ;  that  appeared  to  the  holy  patriarchs  and  pro- 
phets of  old,  at  sundry  times  and  in  divers  manners  ;  and 
in  one  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  everlasting  Wisdom,  divine 
Power,  true  Light,  only  Saviour,  and  Preserver  of  all ;  the 
same  one,  holy,  just,  merciful,  almighty,  and  eternal  God ; 
who  in  the  fulness  of  time  took,  and  was  manifested  in  the 
flesh ;  at  which  time  he  preached  (and  his  disciples  after 
him)  the  everlasting  gospel  of  repentance,  and  promise  of 
remission  of  sins,  and  eternal  life,  to  all  that  heard  and 
obeyed  ;  who  said — "  he  that  is  with  you  (in  the  flesh)  shall 
be  in  you"  by  the  Spirit ;  and  though  he  left  them  as  to  the 
flesh,  yet  not  comfortless  ;  for  he  would  come  to  them  again 
in  the  Spirit ;  for  a  httle  while,  and  they  should  not  see  him 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.  79 


as  to  the  flesh  ;  again  a  little  while  and  they  should  see  him 
in  the  Spirit ;  for  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  is  that  Spirit,  a 
manifestation  whereof  is  given  to  every  one  to  profit  withal ; 
in  which  Holy  Spirit,  1  beheve,  as  the  same  almighty  and 
eternal  God,  who  as  in  those  times  he  ended  all  shadows, 
and  became  the  infalhble  guide  to  them  that  walked  therein ; 
by  which  they  were  adopted  heirs  and  co-heirs  of  glory ; 
so  am  I  a  living  witness  that  the  same  holy,  just,  merciful, 
almighty,  and  eternal  God,  is  now  as  then,  after  this  tedi- 
ous night  of  idolatry,  superstition,  and  human  inventions, 
that  hath  overspread  the  world,  gloriously  manifested  to 
discover,  and  save  from  all  iniquity,  and  to  conduct  unto 
the  holy  land  of  pure  and  endless  peace,  in  a  word,  to  taber- 
nacle in  men.  And  I  also  firmly  believe,  that  without  re- 
penting and  forsaking  of  past  sins,  and  walking  in  obedience 
to  this  heavenly  voice,  which  would  guide  into  all  trutli 
and  establish  there ;  remission  and  eternal  life  can  never 
be  obtained  ;  but  unto  them  that  fear  his  name  and  keep 
his  commandments  ;  they,  and  they  only,  shall  have  right 
unto  the  tree  of  life  ;  for  whose  name  sake  I  have  been 
made  willing  to  relinquish  and  forsake  all  the  vain  fashions, 
enticing  pleasures,  alluring  honours,  and  glittering  glories 
of  this  transitory  world,  and  readily  to  accept  the  portion 
of  a  fool,  from  this  deriding  generation,  and  become  a  man 
of  sorrows,  and  a  perpetual  reproach  to  my  familiars  ;  yea, 
and  with  the  greatest  cheerfulness,  can  obsignate  and  con- 
firm, with  no  less  seal  than  the  loss  of  whatsoever  this  dot- 
ing world  accounts  dear,  this  faithful  confession ;  having 
my  eye  fixed  upon  a  more  enduring  substance  and  lasting 
inheritance  ;  and  being  most  infallibly  assured,  that  when 
time  shall  be  no  more,  1  shall,  if  faithful  hereunto,  possess 
the  mansions  of  eternal  life,  and  be  received  into  his  ever- 
lasting habitation  of  rest  and  glory.'  — Page  269,  270.  

1668. 

In  replying  to  the  charge  that  the  Quakers  do  not  trust 
in  the  death  of  Christ  for  pardon  and  salvation,  he  uses  the 
following  expressions  : — 

"  They  are  so  far  from  disowning  the  death  and  suffer- 
ings of  Christ,  that  there  is  not  a  people  on  the  earth  that 
so  assuredly  witness  and  demonstrate  a  fellowship  there- 
with, confessing  before  men  and  angels  that  Christ  died  for 
the  sins  of  the  world,  and  gave  his  life  a  ransom."  Works, 
vol.  ii.  p.  19.  1668. 


80        ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OmCES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


'His  next  report  is — "  We  call  not  upon  God  in  the  name 
and  mediation  of  Jesus  Christ.  Bat,  reader,  that  thou 
mayest  not  thus  be  dogmatised  upon,  but  better  satisfied 
in  thy  sober  inquiries,  assure  thyself  the  Quakers  never 
knew  any  other  name  than  that  of  Jesus  Christ,  through 
which  to  find  acceptance  with  the  Lord  ;  nor  is  it  by  any 
other  than  Jesus,  the  Mediator  of  the  new  covenant,  by 
whom  they  expect  redemption,  and  may  receive  the  promise 
of  an  eternal  inheritance." — Ibid. 

In  replying  to  an  opponent,  he  says  : — 

"  The  fourth  objection  of  Jenner,  is  that  w'e  hold  '  All 
that  Christ  did  in  the  world,  was  only  as  a  figure  and  ex- 
ample ;  therefore  we  deny  the  Lord  that  bought  us.'  To 
which  William  Penn  replies  : — This  language  he  cannot 
produce  in  any  author,  that  is  an  acknowledged  true  Qua- 
ker;  for w^e  afiirm  he  did  many  things  wherein  he  was 
neither  a  figure  nor  example  ;  though  in  some  sense  he  may 
be  the  former,  and  in  many  the  latter  :  for  in  Him  we  have 
life,  and  by  faith,  atonement  in  his  blood  ;  yet  'twas  the 
language  of  the  apostle  Peter,  '  for  even  hereunto  were  ye 
called,  because  Christ  also  suffered  for  us  ;  leaving  us  an 
example,  that  we  should  follow  his  steps.'  1  Peter  ii.  21." 
—Works,  vol.  ii.  p.  66.  1671. 

In  a  pamphlet,  entitled  "  Scripture  Socinianised,"  Wil- 
liam Penn  refutes  the  Socinian  notions  of  an  early  op- 
poser,  who  cavilled  against  George  Fox  for  making  Christ 
to  be  God,  and  in  support  of  his  argument  asserted  that 
the  expressions  of  our  blessed  Lord,  "glorify  thou  me 
with  the  glory  which  I  had  with  thee  before  the  world  be- 
gan," alluded  only  to  a  glory  given  him  in  decree.  Wil- 
liam Penn  replies : — "  The  clinch  is  foohsh,  and  his  conse- 
quence false  and  pernicious.  For  what  if  Christ  was  not 
then  glorified,  must  it  therefore  follow  that  he  was  not  in 
being,  much  less  glorified,  before  the  world  was  ?  Can  he 
be  so  great  a  stranger  to  the  apostle's  doctrine,  delivered 
in  his  Epistle  to  the  Philippians,  where  we  find  him,  first, 
equal  to  God,  as  being  in  his  very  form  or  essence ;  next 
making  himself  of  no  reputation  ;  then  appearing  in  the 
fashion  or  likeness  of  men  ;  and  lastly,  that  he  humbled 
himself,  and  became  obedient  unto  death,  even  the  death 
of  the  cross  ;  which  shows  that  he  was  in  an  exalted  and 
glorified  state  before  he  humbled  himself;  else,  how  was 
he  humbled?  And  it  is  a  piece  of  sacrilege  and  ingratitude, 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JEStJS  CHRIST.  81 


I  almost  tremble  to  think  on,  that  because  he  was  pleased 
to  descend  in  the  likeness  of  men,  in  order  to  the  salvation 
of  mankind,  (in  which  our  adversary  may  also  have  his 
share,  if  he  unfeignedly  repent,)  he  should  unworthily  rob 
him  of  all  pre-existence  in  the  form  of  God,  while  He  him- 
self thought  it  no  robbery  to  be  equal  with  God." — Vol. 

ii.  p.  136.  1672. 

In  reply  to  the  charge  that  George  Fox  had  put  Christ 
for  God,  where  he  said  "  Christ  is  all,"  William  Penn 
says : — 

"  Now  hear  what  the  Apostle  says  in  the  matter,  Col. 

iii.  11.  '  Where  there  is  neither  Greek  nor  Jew,  circum- 
cised nor  uncircumcised,  barbarian,  Scythian,  bond  or  free, 
but  Christ  is  all  and  in  all.'  And  if  Christ  be  all  and  in 
all,  and  he  that  is  all  and  in  all  be  the  true  and  Hving  God, 
then  because  Christ  is  all  and  in  all,  Christ  is  the  true  and 
living  God."— lb.  p.  137. 

Again  he  says  : — 

"  In  short,  Christ  is  called  both  God,  Lord  and  Judge  ; 
and  since  there  is  but  one  only  true  God,  Lord  and  Judge 
of  right  Christians,  we  therefore  believe  Christ  to  be  that 
only  true  God,  Lord  and  Judge,  both  of  quick  and  dead. 
And  here  let  me  caution  the  man  of  his  eager  opposition 
to  Christ's  divinity,  since,  supposing  it  should  not  be  true, 
there  can  be  no  detraction  ;  and  if  it  should  prove  true, 
as  he  may  one  day  know,  he  will  be  guilty  of  robbing 
Christ  of  that,  for  which  he  thought  it  no  robbery  himself 
to  be  equal  with  God,  that  is,  to  be  the  only  true  God  him- 
self."—lb.  p.  139.  1672. 

The  following  confession  of  his  Christian  faith,  will  be 
found  in  the  second  volume  of  his  Works,  p.  420. 

"  I  will  end  my  part  herein,  with  our  most  solemn  con- 
fession, in  the  holy  fear  of  God  ;  that  we  believe  in  no 
other  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  than  he  who  appeared  to  the 
fathers  of  old,  at  sundry  times  and  in  divers  manners  ;  and 
in  the  fulness  of  time,  took  flesh  of  the  seed  of  Abraham 
and  stock  of  David,  became  Immanuel,  God  manifest  in 
flesh,  through  which  he  conversed  in  the  world,  preached 
his  everlasting  gospel,  and  by  his  divine  power,  gathered 
faithful  witnesses  ;  and  when  his  hour  was  come,  was  taken 
of  cruel  men,  his  body  wickedly  slain  ;  which  life  he  gave, 
to  proclaim,  upon  faith  and  repentance,  a  general  ransom 
to  the  world  ;  the  third  day  he  rose  again,  and  afterwards 


82        ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CUEIST. 

appeared  among  his  disciples,  in  whose  view  he  was  re- 
ceived up  into  glory ;  but  returned  again,  fulfilling  those 
Scriptures,  '  He  that  is  with  you,  shall  be  in  you  ;  I  will 
not  leave  you  comfortless,,  I  will  come  to  you  again,  and 
receive  you  unto  myself  John  xiv.  3.  17,  18.  And  that 
he  did  come,  and  abide  as  really  in  them,  and  doth  now  in 
his  children  by  measure,  as  without  measure  in  that  body 
prepared  to  perform  the  will  of  God  in  ;  that  he  is  their 
King,  Prophet,  and  High  Priest,  and  intercedes  and  medi- 
ates on  their  behalf ;  bringing  in  everlasting  righteousness, 
peace  and  assurance  for  ever,  unto  all  their  hearts  and  con- 
sciences, to  whom  be  everlasting  honour  and  dominion. 

Amen."— Vol.  ii.  p.  420.  1673. 

His  letter  to  Dr.  John  Collenges  contains  the  following, 
viz. — 

"  And  now  I  will  tell  thee  my  faith  in  this  matter ;  1  do 
heartily  believe,  that  Jesus  Christ  is  the  only  true  and 
everlasting  God,  by  whom  all  things  were  made,  that  are 
made,  in  the  heavens  above,  or  the  earth  beneath,  or  the 
waters  under  the  earth  ;  that  he  is  as  omnipotent,  so  om- 
niscient, and  omnipresent,  therefore  God. 

"  In  short,  I  say,  both  as  to  this,  and  the  other  point  of 
justification,  that  Jesus  Christ  was  a  sacrifice  for  sin,  that 
he  was  set  forth  to  be  a  propitiation  for  the  sins  of  the 
whole  world  ;  to  declare  God's  righteousness  for  the  re- 
mission of  sins  that  are  past,  &c.  to  all  that  repented  and 
had  faith  in  his  Son.  Therein  the  love  of  God  appeared, 
that  he  declared  his  good  will  thereby  to  be  reconciled  ; 
Christ  bearing  away  the  sins  that  are  past,  as  the  scape- 
goat did  of  old,  not  excluding  inward  work ;  for,  till  that 
is  begun,  none  can  be  benefited,  though  it  is  not  the  work, 
but  God's  free  love  that  remits  and  blots  out,  of  which  the 
death  of  Christ,  and  his  sacrificing  of  himself,  was  a  most 
certain  declaration  and  confirmation.  In  short,  that  de- 
clared remission,  to  all  who  believe  and  obey,  for  the  sins 
that  are  past ;  which  is  the  first  part  of  Christ's  work,  (as 
it  is  a  king's  to  pardon  a  traitor,  before  he  advanceth  him,) 
and  hitherto  the  acquittance  imputes  a  righteousness,  (inas- 
much as  men,  on  true  repentance,  are  imputed  as  clean  of 
guilt  as  if  they  had  never  sinned,)  and  thus  far  justified  : 
but  the  completing  of  this,  by  the  working  out  of  sin  in- 
herent, must  be  by  the  power  and  spirit  of  Christ  in  the 
heart,  destroying  the  old  man  and  his  deeds,  and  bringing 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OP  JESUS  CHRIST.  83 


in  the  new  and  everlasting  righteousness  :  So,  that  which  I 
writ  against,  is  such  doctrine  as  extended  Christ's  death 
and  obedience,  not  to  the  first,  but  this  second  part  of  jus- 
tification ;  not  the  pacifying  [of]  conscience,  as  to  past  sin  ; 
but  to  complete  salvation,  without  cleansing  and  purging 
from  all  filthiness  of  flesh  and  spirit,  by  the  internal  opera- 
tion of  his  holy  power  and  Spirit." — See  Penn's  Works, 

vol.  ii.'p.  165,  &c.  1673. 

From  the  18th  chapter  of  the  "  Christian  Quaker,"  a 
work  written  by  William  Penn  and  George  Whitehead,  I 
take  the  following  quotation,  viz. — 

"  But  there  is  yet  a  farther  benefit  that  accrueth  by  the 
blood  of  Christ,  viz. — that  Christ  is  a  propitiation  and  re- 
demption to  such  as  have  faith  in  him.  For  though  I  still 
place  the  stress  of  feeling  of  a  particular  benefit,  upon  the 
light,  life,  and  spirit  revealed  and  witnessed  in  every  par- 
ticular person,  yet  in  that  general  appearance  there  was  a 
general  benefit  justly  to  be  attributed  unto  the  blood  of  that 
very  body  of  Christ,  which  he  oflfered  up  through  the  eter- 
nal Spirit,  to  wit,  that  it  did  propitiate.  For,  however  it 
might  draw  stupendous  judgments  upon  the  heads  of  those 
who  were  authors  of  that  dismal  tragedy,  and  bloody  mur- 
der of  the  Son  of  God,  and  died  impenitent,  yet  doubtless 
it  is  thus  far  turned  to  very  great  account,  in  that  it  was  a 
most  precious  offering  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord,  and  drew 
God's  love  the  more  eminently  unto  mankind,  at  least  such 
as  should  believe  in  his  name  ;  as  his  solemn  prayer  to  his 
Father  at  his  leaving  the  world,  given  us  by  his  beloved 
disciple,  doth  plainly  witness. 

"  For  how  can  it  otherwise  be,  but  that  it  should  render 
God  most  propitious  to  all  such  as  believe  in  Christ,  the 
Light  of  the  world,  when  it  was  but  placing  of  his  only 
begotten  Son's  sufferings,  truly  on  their  account,  that  should 
ever  believe  and  obey  him  ?  Yea  doubtless,  greatly  did 
that  sacrifice  influence  to  some  singular  tenderness,  and  pe- 
culiar regard  unto  all  such  who  should  believe  in  his  name, 
being  the  last  and  greatest  of  all  his  external  acts,  viz.  the 
resisting  unto  blood,  for  the  spiritual  good  of  the  world, 
thereby  offering  up  his  life  upon  the  cross,  through  the 
power  of  the  eternal  Spirit,  that  remission  of  sin,  God's 
bounty  to  the  world,  might  be  preached  in  his  name,  and 
in  his  very  blood  too,  as  that  which  was  the  most  ratifying 


84        ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


of  all  his  bodily  sufferings.  And,  indeed,  therefore  might 
it  seenn  meet  to  the  Holy  Ghost,  that  redemption,  propi- 
tiation, and  remission  should  be  declared,  and  held  forth, 
in  the  blood  of  Christ  unto  all  that  have  right  faith  therein, 
as  saith  the  apostle  to  the  Romans  :  '  whom  God  hath  set 
forth  to  be  a  propitiation  through  faith  in  his  blood.'  Rom. 
iii.  25.  And  to  the  Ephesians :  '  in  whom  we  have  redemp- 
tion through  his  blood,  the  forgiveness  of  sins,' &c.  because 
it  implies  a  firm  belief  that  Christ  was  come  in  the  flesh, 
and  that  none  could  then  have  him  as  their  propitiation 
and  redemption,  who  withstood  the  acknowledgement  of, 
and  belief  in,  his  visible  appearance,  which  John  tells  us 
some  denied." — Works,  vol.  i.  p.  577.  1673. 

John  Faldo,  in  writing  against  Friends,  quotes  as  their 
language,  "  Christ,  the  offering,  the  Light  within."  To 
which  William  Penn  replies : — 

"  This  is  no  Quaker  expression  ;  and  unless  w  e  are  to 
answer  for  John  Faldo's  mistakes,  we  are  unconcerned  in 
it :  only  his  malice  is  manifest ;  for  he  w'ould  by  this  in- 
sinuate, that  we  deny  Christ  to  be  an  offering  as  in  the 
flesh,  and  the  body  then  offered  up,  to  be  concerned  in  our 
belief  of  the  offering  ;  but  I  do  declare  it  to  have  been  an 
holy  offering,  and  such  an  one  too,  as  w^as  to  be  once  for 
all."— Vol.  ii.  p.  311.  1673. 

From  his  "  Invalidity  of  John  Faldo's  Vindication,"  I 
take  the  following,  viz. — 

"  Before  I  leave  this  particular,  I  must  again  declare, 
that  we  are  led  hy  the  Light  and  Spirit  of  Christ,  w^ith  holy 
reverence  to  confess  unto  the  blood  of  Christ  shed  at  Jeru- 
salem, as  that  by  which  a  propitiation  was  held  forth  to 
the  remission  of  the  sins  that  were  past,  through  the  for- 
bearance of  God  unto  all  that  believe  :  and  we  embrace  it 
as  such  ;  and  do  firmly  believe,  that  thereby  God  declared 
his  great  love  unto  the  world,  for  by  it  is  the  consciousness 
of  sin  declared  to  be  taken  aw^ay,  or  remission  sealed  to  all 
that  have  known  true  repentance,  and  faith  in  his  appear- 
ance. But  because  of  the  condition,  T  mean  faith  and  re- 
pentance, therefore  do  w  e  exhort  all  to  turn  their  minds  to 
the  Light  and  Spirit  of  Christ  within,  that  by  seeing  their 
conditions,  and  being  by  the  same  brought  both  into  true 
contrition  and  holy  confidence  in  God's  mercy,  they  may 
come  to  receive  the  benefit  thereof ;  for  without  that  ne- 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


85 


cessary  condition,  it  will  be  impossible  to  obtain  remission 
of  sins,  though  it  be  so  generally  promulgated  thereby." — 
P.  411.  1673. 

In  his  answer  to  a  false  and  foolish  libel,  he  thus  replies 
to  the  charge  that  "  the  Quakers  deny  the  person  of 
Jesus  Christ,"  viz. — 

*'  If  by  person  of  Christ,  is  meant  the  man  Christ  Jesus, 
we  deny  the  charge  ;  for  there  is  no  other  name  given 
under  heaven  by  which  salvation  can  be  obtained.  ""Tis 
Christ  alone  that  hath  brought  life  and  immortality  to 
life.  He  is  the  propitiation,  the  Mediator  and  Interces- 
sor ;  and  by  him  only  can  man  come  to  God  :  and  no  man 
can  come  to  him  but  such  as  come  to  his  Spirit  in  their 
own  hearts.  And  such  as  have  not  the  Spirit  of  Christ 
dwelling  in  them,  are  none  of  his." — P.  670.  1678. 

From  his  "  Address  to  Protestants,"  I  extract  the  fol- 
lowing sentiments  : — Speaking  of  divine  love,  he  says  : — 

"  This  is  my  commandment,  said  Christ,  that  ye  love 
one  another  as  1  have  loved  you  ;  and  greater  love  hath 
no  man  than  this,  that  a  man  lay  down  his  life  for  his 
friends — ye  are  my  friends,  if  ye  do  whatsoever  I  command 
you.  Indeed  he  gave  his  life  for  the  world,  and  offered 
up  one  common  sacrifice  for  mankind.  And  by  this  one 
offering  up  of  himself,  once  for  all,  he  hath  for  ever  per- 
fected, that  is,  quitted  and  discharged,  and  taken  into 
favour,  them  that  are  sanctified  ;  who  have  received  the 
spirit  of  grace  and  sanctification  in  their  hearts  ;  for  fiuch 
as  resist  it  receive  not  the  benefit  of  that  sacrifice,  but 
damnation  to  themselves. 

"This  holy  offering  up  of  himself  by  the  eternal  Spirit, 
is  a  great  part  of  his  Messiahship  ;  for  therein  he. hath  both 
confirmed  his  blessed  message  of  remission  of  sins,  and 
life  everlasting,  to  as  many  as  truly  believe  in  his  name, 
and  hath  given  himself  a  propitiation  for  all  that  have 
sinned,  and  thereby  come  short  of  the  glory  of  God  ; 
insomuch  that  God  is  said  by  the  apostle  Paul  to  be  just, 
and  the  justifier  of  him  which  believeth  in  Jesus,  whom 
God  hath  set  forth  to  be  a  propitiation,  through  faith  in 
his  blood,  to  declare  his  righteousness  for  the  remission 
of  sins  that  are  past,  through  the  forbearance  of  God. 
Unto  which  I  shall  join  his  Mediatorship  or  Advocacy, 
linked  together  both  by  the  apostle  of  the  Gentiles  and  the 
beloved  disciple  John.  The  first,  in  these  words,  For  there 
8 


86 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JE^S  CHRIST. 


is  one  God,  and  one  Mediator  between  God  and  men,  the 
man  Christ  Jesus,  who  gave  himself  a  ransom  for  all,  to 
be  testified  in  due  time.  The  apostle  John  expresseth  it 
thus  : — '  My  little  children,  these  things  write  I  unto  you, 
that  you  sin  not;  and  if  any  man  sinneth,  we  have  an 
Advocate  with  the  Father,  Jesus  Christ  the  righteous  ;  he  is 
the  propitiation  for  our  sins,  and  not  for  ours  only,  but  also 
for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world.'  So  that  to  be  brief,  the 
Christian  creed,  so  far  as  it  is  declaratory,  lies  eminently  in 
a  confession  of  these  particulars  : — Of  the  divine  authority 
of  the  New  as  well  as  of  the  Old.  Testament  writings,  and 
particularly  of  these  great^  general  and  obvious  truths^ 
therein  expressed,  viz.  of  God  and  Christ,  his  miracles, 
doctrine,  death,  resurrection,  advocateship,  or  mediation, 
the  gift  of  his  light.  Spirit  or  grace,  of  faith,  and  repent- 
ance from  dead  works  unto  remission  of  sins,  keeping  his 
commandments,  and  lastly,  of  eternal  recompense." — Vol. 
i.  p.  762.  1679. 

In  the  year  1695,  a  nameless  answer  to  William  Penn's 
"  Key"  was  published,  to  which  he  soon  returned  a  reply. 
In  this  he  takes  occasion  to  comment  upon  a  charge 
brought  against  him,  of  "  dividing,  as  well  as  distinguish- 
ing between  Christ  and  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  and  Christ  and 
him  that  was  born  of  the  Virgin  Mary  he  uses  the  fol- 
lowing expressions,  viz.— 

"  But  if  he  will  allow  us  to  speak  our  own  mind,  in  our 
own,  words,  and  had  rather  we  were  in  the  right  than  in 
the  wrong,  which  does  but  become  an  ingenuous  author, 
though  it  thereby  appear  that  we  are  not  what  he  had 
said  us  to  be,  then  let  him  know,  we  do  not  divide  or 
distinguish  between  Christ  and  Jesus  of  Nazareth.  Nor 
did  we  ever  say,  that  Jesus  of  Nazareth  is  Christ's  instru- 
ment to  appear  in  and  by,  for  man's  salvation  ;  but  that 
the  Word  took  flesh,  and  this  is  the  Christ  or  anointed  of 
God.  And  though  sometimes  the  term  Christ  is  given  to 
the  Word,  sometimes  to  the  prepared  body  he  took,  as 
when  he  is  said  to  die,  and  be  buried,  and  raised  again,  &:c. 
yet  God  manifest  in  the  flesh,  and  Immanuel,  God  with 
us,  in  our  nature,  is  that  Christ  of  God  or  Christ  the  Lord, 
that  God  hath  [exalted]  and  will  exalt — the  Enlightener, 
Redeemer,  Saviour  of  the  world,  both  an  offering  for  all, 
and  the  Mediator  and  Sanctifier  of  all  that  desire  to  come 
.   to  God  by  him."— Works,  vol.  ii.  p.  817.  1695. 


ON  THE  DIVTNITr  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESt'S  CHRIST.  87 

In  his  "  Primitive  Christianity  Revived,"  1  find  the 
following  : — 

"  We  do  believe,  that  Jesus  Christ  was  our  holy  sacri- 
fice, atonement  and  propitiation  ;  that  he  bore  our  iniqui- 
ties, and  that  by  his  stripes  we  were  healed  of  the  wounds 
Adam  gave  us  in  his  fall ;  and  that  God  is  just  in  forgiving 
true  penitents  upon  the  credit  of  that  holy  offering,  Christ 
made  of  himself  to  God  for  us,  and  that  what  he  did  and 
suffered,  satisfied  and  pleased  God,  and  w^as  for  the  sake  of 
fallen  man,  that  had  displeased  God  :  and  that  through  the 
offering  up  of  himself  once  for  all,  through  the  Eternal 
Spirit,  he  hath  for  ever  perfected  those,  in  all  times,  that 
were  sanctified,  who  walked  not  after  the  flesh,  but  after 
the  Spirit.  Rom.  viii.  1.    Mark  that. 

"  In  short,  justification  consists  of  two  parts,  or  hath  a 
twofold  consideration,  viz.  justification  from  the  guilt  of 
sin,  and  justification  from  the  power  and  pollution  of  sin  ; 
and  in  this  sense,  justification  gives  a  man  a  full  and  clear 
acceptance  before  God.    For  want  of  this  latter  part  it 
is,  that  so  many  souls,  religiously  inclined,  are  often  under 
doubts,  scruples,  and  despondencies,  notwithstanding  all 
that  their  teachers  tell  them  of  the  extent  and  efiicacy  of 
the  first  part  of  justification.    And  it  is  too  general  an 
unhappiness  among  the  professors  of  Christianity,  that 
they  are  apt  to  cloak  their  own  active  and  passive  dis- 
obedience, with  the  active  and  passive  obedience  of  Christ. 
The  first  part  of  justification,  we  do  reverently  and  hum- 
bly acknowledge,  is  only  for  the  sake  of  the  death  and 
sufferings  of  Christ :  nothing  we  can  do,  though  by  the 
operation  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  being  able  to  cancel  old 
debts,  or  wipe  out  old  scores:  it  is  the  power  and  efiicacy 
of  that  propitiatory  offering,  upon  faith  and  repentance, 
that  justifies  us  from  the  sins  that  are  past  ;  and  it  is  the 
power  of  Christ's  spirit  in  our  hearts,  that  purifies  and 
makes  us  acceptable  before  God.    For  till  the  heart  of 
man  is  purged  from  sin,  God  will  never  accept  of  it.  He 
reproves,  rebukes,  and  condemns  those  that  entertain  sin 
there,  and  therefore  such  cannot  be  said  to  be  in  a  justified 
state  ;  condemnation  and  justification  being  contraries  :  So 
that  they  that  hold  themselves  in  a  justified  state  by  the 
active  and  passive  obedience  of  Christ,  while  they  are 
not  actively  and  passively  obedient  to  the  Spirit  of  Christ 
Jesus,  are  under  a  strong  and  dangerous  delusion:  And 


88  ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 

for  crying  out  against  this  sin-pleasing  imagination,  not 
to  say  doctrine,  we  are  staged  and  reproached  as  deniers 
and  despisers  of  the  death  and  sufferings  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.  But  be  it  known  to  such,  they  add  to  Christ's 
sufferings,  and  crucify  to  themselves  afresh  the  Son  of 
God,  and  trample  the  blood  of  the  covenant  under  their 
feet,  that  walk  unholily,  under  a  profession  of  justification ; 
for  God  will  not  acquit  the  guilty,  nor  justify  the  disobe- 
dient and  unfaithful.  Such  deceive  themselves,  and  at  the 
greatand  final  judgment,  their  sentence  will  not  be, '  Come, 
ye  blessed,'  because  it  cannot  be  said  to  them,  '  Well 
done,  good  and  faithful,'  for  they  cannot  be  so  esteemed, 
that  live  and  die  in  a  reproveable  and  condemnable  state  ; 
but  '  Go,  ye  cursed,  &c.'  "—P.  867,  868.  1696.  , 

In  his  "  Testimony  to  the  Truth  as  held  by  the  people 
called  Quakers,"  he  says  : — 

"  Concerning  Jesus  Christ. — Because  we  believe  that 
the  Word  which  was  made  flesh,  and  dwelt  amongst  men, 
and  was  and  is  the  only  begotten  of  the  Father,  full  of 
grace  and  truth  ;  his  beloved  Son  in  whom  he  is  well 
pleased,  and  whom  we  ought  to  hear  in  all  things  ;  who 
tasted  death  for  every  man,  and  died  for  sin  that  we  might 
die  to  sin  ;  is  the  great  Light  of  the  world,  and  full  of 
grace  and  truth,  and  that  he  lighteth  every  man  that 
cometh  into  the  world,  and  giveth  them  grace  for  grace 
and  light  for  light ;  and  that  no  man  can  know  God  and 
Christ  (whom  to  know  is  life  eternal)  and  themselves,  in 
order  to  true  conviction  and  conversion,  without  receiving 
and  obeying  this  holy  light,  and  being  taught  by  the  divine 
grace;  and  that  without  it,  no  remission,  no  justification, 
no  salvation,  as  the  Scripture  plentifully  testifies,  can  be 
obtained.  And  because  we  therefore  press  the  necessity 
of  people's  receiving  the  inward  and  spiritual  appearance 
of  this  divine  Word,  in  order  to  a  right  and  beneficial 
application  of  whatsoever  he  did  for  man,  with  respect  to 
his  life,  miracles,  death,  sufferings,  resurrection,  ascension 
and  mediation,  our  adversaries  would  have  us  deny  any 
Christ  without  us.  First,  as  to  the  divinity,  because  they 
make  us  to  confine  him  too  within  us.  Secondly,  as  to 
his  humanity  or  manhood,  because,  as  he  was  the  Son  of 
Abraham,  David  and  Mary,  according  to  the  flesh,  he 
can't  be  in  us,  and  therefore  we  are  heretics  and  blasphe- 
mers :  whereas  we  believe  him  according  to  Scripture,  to 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.  89 

be  the  Son  of  Abraham,  David  and  Mary,  after  the  flesh, 
and  also  God  over  all,  blessed  for  ever.  So  that  he  that 
is  within  us,  is  also  without  us,  even  the  sayne  that  laid  down 
his  precious  life  for  us,  rose  again  from  the  dead,  and  ever 
liveth  to  make  intercession  for  us,  being  the  blessed  and 
alone  Mediator  betwixt  God  and  man,  and  He  by  whom 
God  will  finally  judge  the  world,  both  quick  and  dead  ; 
all  which  we  as  sincerely  and  steadfastly  believe  as  any 
other  society  of  people,  whatever  may  be  ignorantly  or 
maliciously  insinuated  to  the  contrary,  either  by  our  de- 
clared enemies  or  mistaken  neighbours." — Vol.  ii.  p.  877. 
 1698. 

"  Of  Christ's  being  our  example. — Because  in  some  cases 
we  have  said  the  Lord  Jesus  was  our  great  example,  and 
that  his  obedience  to  his  Father,  doth  not  excuse  ours,  but 
as  by  keeping  his  commandments,  he  abode  in  his  Father's 
love,  so  must  we  follow  his  example  of  obedience,  so  abide 
in  his  love  ;  some  have  been  so  ignorant,  (or  that  which  is 
worse,)  as  to  venture  to  say  for  us,  or  in  our  name,  that 
we  believe  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  was  in  all  things  but  an 
example.  Whereas  we  confess  him  to  be  so  much  more 
than  an  example,  that  we  believe  him  to  be  our  most 
acceptable  sacrifice  to  God  his  Father,  who,  for  his  sake, 
will  look  upon  fallen  man,  that  hath  justly  merited  the 
wrath  of  God,  upon  his  return  by  repentance,  faith,  and 
obedience,  as  if  he  had  never  sinned  at  all."  1  John  ii.  12. 
Rom.  iii.  26.— P.  880. 

"  Of  Christ's  coming,  both  in  flesh  and  Spirit. — Because 
the  tendency,  (generally  speaking)  of  our  ministry,  is  to 
press  people  to  the  inward  and  spiritual  appearance  of 
Christ,  by  his  Spirit  and  grace  in  their  hearts,  to  give  them 
a  true  sight  and  sense  of,  and  sorrow  for  sin,  to  amendment 
of  life  and  practice  of  holiness ;  and  because  we  have  often 
opposed  that  doctrine,  of  being  actually  justified  by  the 
merits  of  Christ,  while  actual  sinners  against  God,  by  living 
in  the  pollutions  of  this  wMcked  w^orld ;  we  are  by  our 
adversaries  rendered  such,  as  either  deny  or  undervalue 
the  coming  of  Christ  without  us,  and  the  force  and  efficacy 
of  his  death  and  sufferings,  as  a  propitiation  for  the  sins  of 
the  w^hole  world.  Whereas  w^e  do,  and  hope  we  ever 
shall,  as  we  always  did,  confess  to  the  glory  of  God  the 
Father,  and  the  honour  of  his  dear  and  beloved  Son,  that 
He,  to  wit,  Jesus  Christ,  took  our  nature  upon  him,  was 

8* 


90 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  ClfRISl'. 


like  us  in  all  things,  sin  excepted  ;  that  he  was  born  of  the 
Virgin  Mary,  went  about  amongst  men  doing  good,  and 
working  many  miracles ;  that  he  was  betrayed  by  Judas 
into  the  hands  of  the  chief  priests,  &;c.;  that  he  suffered 
death  under  Pontius  Pilate,  the  Roman  governor,  being 
crucified  between  two  thieves,  and  was  buried  in  the 
sepulchre  of  Joseph  of  Arimathea ;  rose  again  the  third 
day  from  the  dead,  and  ascended  into  Heaven,  and  sits  at 
God's  right  hand,  in  the  power  and  majesty  of  his  Father, 
and  that  by  him,  God,  the  Father,  will  one  day  judge  the 
whole  world,  both  of  quick  and  dead,  according  to  their 
works."— Vol.  ii.  p.  880,  881.  1698. 

In  a  paper  entitled  "  Gospel  Truths,"  &ic.  signed  by 
William  Penn,  Thomas  Story,  Anthony  Sharp  and  George 
Rook,  the  following  declaration  of  faith  is  contained,  viz. 

"  1 .  It  is  our  belief,  that  God  is ;  and  that  he  is  a  re- 
warder  of  all  them  that  fear  him,  with  eternal  rewards  of 
happiness  ;  and  that  those  that  fear  him  not,  shall  be  turned 
into  hell.  Heb.  xi.  16.  Rev.  xxii.  12.  Romans  ii.  5,  6,  7,  8. 
Psalm  ix.  17. 

"2.  That  there  are  Three  that  bear  record  in  heaven, 
the  Father,  the  Word,  and  the  Spirit ;  and  these  Three  are 
really  one.  1  John  v.  7. 

"  3.  That  the  Word  was  made  flesh,  and  dwelt  among 
men ;  and  was,  and  is,  the  only  begotten  of  the  Father ; 
full  of  grace  arid  truth ;  his  beloved  Son,  in  whom  he  is 
well  pleased^  and  whom  we  are  to  hear  in  all  things  ;  who 
tasted  death  for  every  man,  and  died  for  sin,  that  we  might 
die  to  sin,  and  by  his  power  and  spirit  be  raised  up  to  new- 
ness of  life  here,  and  to  glory  hereafter.  John  i.  14.  Matt, 
iii.  17.  Heb.  ii.  9. 

"  4.  That  as  we  are  only  justified  from  the  guilt  of  sin, 
by  Christ,  the  propitiation,  and  not  by  works  of  righteous- 
ness that  we  have  done,  so  there  is  an  absolute  necessity 
that  we  receive  and  obey,  to  unfeigned  repentance,  and 
amendment  of  life,  the  holy  light  and  Spirit  of  Jesus  Christ, 
in  order  to  obtain  that  remission  and  justification  from  sin  ; 
since  no  man  can  be  justified  by  Christ,  who  walks  not  after 
the  Spirit  but  after  the  flesh ;  for  whom  he  sanctifies,  them 
he  also  justifies  ;  and  if  we  walk  in  the  light,  as  he  is  light, 
his  precious  blood  cleanseth  us  from  all  sin ;  as  well  from 
the  pollution  as  the  guilt  of  sin.  Rom.  iii.  22.  26.  viii.  1.  4. 
1  John  V.  7."— Vol.  ii.  p.  885.  1698. 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AXD  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHEIST. 


91 


In  his  "  Defence  of  Gospel  Truths,"  he  thus  replies  to 
the  Bishop  of  Cork : — 

"  1  am  of  opinion,  if  he  had  well  considered  the  force 
and  comprehensiveness  of  our  belief  concerning  Christ, 
that  pleases  him  so  well,  he  might  have  saved  himself  the 
trouble  of  what  he  has  published  to  the  world  upon  the 
rest  of  them :  for  whoever  believes  in  Christ  as  a  propitia- 
tion, in  order  to  remission  of  sins,  and  justification  of 
sinners  from  the  guilt  of  sin,  can  hardly  disbelieve  any 
fundamental  article  of  the  Christian  rehgion,  since  every 
such  person  must  necessarily  believe  in  God,  because  it  is 
with  him  alone  man  is  to  be  justified.  To  be  sure  he  must 
believe  in  Christ,  for  that  is  the  very  proposition.  He 
must  also  beheve  in  the  Holy  Ghost,  because  he  is  the 
author  of  his  conviction,  repentance  and  belief.  He  must 
believe  heaven  and  hell,  rewards  and  punishment,  and 
consequently  the  resurrection  of  the  just  and  unjust.  For 
why  should  he  be  concerned  about  being  freed  from  the 
guilt  of  his  sin,  if  he  were  unaccountable  in  another 
world?"— Vol.  ii.  p.  891.  1698. 

To  the  charge  that  the  Quakers  believe  the  Light,  or 
Spirit  of  Christ  within  them,  to  be  whole  Christ,  or  God, 
he  replies — 

"  I  deny,  in  the  name  of  all  that  abused  people,  that 
we  ever  owned  or  professed  the  light  within  every  man 
to  be  God ;  though  we  say  it  is  of  God ;  much  less  that 
we  worship  it  as  such."— Vol.  ii.  p.  295.  1673. 

Again — "  To  the  other  scraps  of  matter  1  answer,  That 
we  never  did,  do,  nor  shall  assert,  the  God  that  made 
heaven  and  earth,  to  be  comprehensible  within  the  soul  of 
man :  no,  it  is  more  impossible  than  that  the  sun  in  the 
firmament  should  be  contained  within  the  body  of  any 
individual  person.  But  that  God,  who  is  the  great  Sun  of 
righteousness,  doth  as  truly  cause  his  light  spiritual  to 
arise  upon  the  souls  of  men,  as  his  sun  natural,  upon  their 
bodies ;  and  as  what  knowledge  we  have  of  the  natural 
sun,  is  by  its  light,  operations  and  effects  upon  the  world, 
so  our  knowledge  of  the  eternal  Sun  of  righteousness,  God, 
who  is  light,  and  in  whom  is  no  darkness  at  all,  is  only 
and  alone  by  his  divine  light,  operations,  and  effects,  in 
and  upon  our  understandings  and  consciences." — lb. 
"  Wherefore  we  utterly  deny  that  the  manifestation  in  man, 
strictly  considered,  is  the  most  high  God,  but  a  manifesta- 


92  ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OP  JESUS  CHBIST. 


tion  of  or  from  God,  by  the  inshinings  of  his  blessed 
light."— Ibid. 

Again,  in  his  "Return  to  John  Faldo's  Reply,"  he 

says— 

"  For  we  do  not  assert,  as  some  ignorantly  and  some 
maliciously  have  printed  and  reported,  that  all  power  in 
heaven  and  earth  is  in  the  manifestation,  but  in  Him  that 
gives  the  manifestation.  I  have  taken  great  care,  with 
several  others,  to  explain  our  belief  in  this  matter,  if  pos- 
sible to  prevent  such  evil  minded  men  as  this  adversary, 
from  making  so  ill  an  use  of  our  innocent  expressions,  and 
giving  their  own  monstrous  consequences  for  our  scriptural 
principles."— P.  645.  1674. 

In  his  "Christian  Quaker,"  published  in  1673,  he 
says — 

"  Further,  Christ  himself  says,  '  I  fam  the  light  of  the 
world,'  which  is  as  much  as  if  he  had  said,  '  I  have  lighted, 
or  shined  forth  to  the  world  therefore  the  light  which 
shines  in  the  hearts  of  mankind,  is  Christ,  though  we  do 
not  sdij  that  every  particular  illumination  is  the  entire 
Christ,  for  so  there  would  be  as  many  Christs  as  there  are 
men,  which  were  absurd  and  blasphemous." — Vol.  i.  p. 
569. 

In  his  "  Key,"  &c.  printed  1692,  I  find  the  following — 
"Perversion  2d.  The  Quakers  hold,  that  the  light  within 
them  is  God,  Christ,  and  the  Holy  Spirit,  so  that  every 
Quaker  has  whole  God,  Christ,  and  Holy  Spirit  in  him, 
which  is  gross  blasphemy. 

"  Principle.  This  is  also  a  mistake  of  their  behef :  they 
never  said  that  every  divine  illumination,  or  manifelstation 
of  Christ,  in  the  hearts  of  men,  was  whole  God,  Christ,  or 
the  Spirit,  which  might  render  them  guilty  of  that  gross 
and  blasphemous  absurdity,  some  would  fasten  upon  them: 
but  that  God,  who  is  light,  or  the  Word  Christ,  who  is 
light,  styled  the  second  Adam,  the  Lord  from  heaven,  and 
the  quickening  spirit,  who  is  God  over  all,  blessed  for  ever, 
hath  enlightened  mankind,  with  a  measure  of  saving  light; 
who  said,  I  am  the  light  of  the  \vorld,  and  they  that  follow 
me,  shall  not  abide  in  darkness,  but  have  the  Light  of  life. 
So  that  the  illumination  is  from  God,  or  Christ  the  divine 
Word ;  but  not  therefore  that  whole  God  or  Christ  is  in 
every  man,  any  more  than  the  whole  sun  or  air  is  in  every 
house  or  chamber.    There  are  no  such  harsh  or  unscrip- 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OE  JESUS  CHRIST.  93 

tural  words  in  their  writings.  It  is  only  a  frightful  perver- 
sion of  some  of  their  enemies,  to  bring  an  odium  upon 
their  holy  faith.  Yet  in  a  sense,  the  Scriptures  say  it ;  and 
that  is  their  sense,  in  which  only,  they  say  the  same  thing. 
I  will  walk  in  them  and  dwell  in  them.  He  that  dwelleth 
with  you  shall  be  in  you.  I  will  not  leave  you  comfort- 
less, 1  will  come  to  you  :  I  in  them  and  they  in  me ;  Christ 
in  us  the  hope  of  glory.  Unless  Christ  be  in  you,  ye  are 
reprobates.  Little  children,  of  whom  1  travail  again  in 
birth,  until  Christ  be  formed  in  you." — Vol.  ii.  p.  780. 

Soon  after  the  publication  of  the  "  Key,"  the  charge  of 
beheving  that  whole  God  and  Christ  is  in  every  man, 
was  revived  against  Friends,  by  a  nameless  author.  Wil- 
liam Penh  again  replies  to  it,  and  quotes  the  foregoing  pass- 
age to  disprove  it;  he  also  further  remarks — "This  is  my 
explanation  of  our  principle  about  the  light,  cleared  from 
the  perversions  of  our  adversaries ;  b^  which  the  uncandid 
deahng  of  this  man  must  be  very  obvious  ;  since  besides  his 
silence,  and  that  he  seems  to  shut  his  eyes  to  our  explana- 
tion and  vindication  of  what  we  hold,  from  what  he  charges 
us,  he  doubles  the  perversion  by  changing  and  misgiving 
the  end  for  which  the  Scriptures  were  cited  by  me.  For 
he  makes  us  to  quote  them,  to  prove  what  we  expressly 
deny  as  a  false  charge  upon  us ;  and  carries  them  at  least 
beyond^  if  not  against  the  intent  and  reason  of  their  quota- 
tion, which  he  knows  deserves  a  black  name ;  since  they 
were  never  quoted  to  prove  whole  God  and  Christ  to  be  in 
every  man,  or  to  be  so  in  any  man.  But  that  God,  Christ, 
and  the  Spirit,  were  in  some  near  manner  in  the  people  of 
God."— P.  824. 

Again.  "  He  makes  too  bold  with  us  also,  in  saying  in 
our  name,  that  Christ  is  in  all  men  ;  for  we  choose  rather 
to  express  ourselves  otherwise,  as,  that  a  manifestation  of 
Christ  is  in  every  man,  or  that  the  light  of  Christ  is  within 
every  man ;  and  in  so  saying,  1  have,  by  many  plain  Scrip- 
tures, proved  that  we  speak  but  the  truth,  and  that  which 
is  every  man's  blessing." — lb.  825.  1695.  ' 

Replying  to  the  bishop  of  Cork's  exceptions,  he  says — 

"  It  is  true,  and  a  great  and  comfortable  truth,  that 
Christ  is  in  us,  according  to  2  Cor.  xiii.  5.  Gal.  ii.  16.  Col. 
i.  26,  27.  but  not  confined  to  man.  He  is  not  so  there,  as 
that  he  is  no  where  else,  and  least  of  all,  that  he  is  not  in 
heaven  ;  for  the  apostle  tells  us,  Ephes.  iv.  1 4.  that  he  as- 


94 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


cended  far  above  all  heavens,  that  he  might  fill  all  things ; 
then  he  is  in  man  certainly.  So  that  our  asserting  that 
doctrine  of  the  indwelling  of  Christ  in  man,  does  not  make 
void  his  being  elsewhere,  because  he  is  every  where.  Though 
in  heaven  most  gloriously,  without  doubt,  being  there  glori- 
fied with  the  glory  that  he  had  with  the  Father  before  the 
world  began.  And  they  that  thus  believe  in  Christ  cannot 
deny  his  being  at  God's  right  hand,  which  signifies,  according 
to  Scripture,  Phil.  ii.  9,  10,  11.  the  highest  exaltation  ;  nor 
yet  to  be  their  Mediator,  for  that  is  inseparable  from  his 
being  their  propitiation." — P.  894.  1698. 


GEORGE  WHITEHEAD. 

In  an  essay  entitled  "  The  Path  of  the  Just  Cleared," 
&c.  published  in  1655,  speaking  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour 
Jesus  Christ,  he  says — 

"  '  Before  Abraham  was  I  am who  was  in  the  begin- 
ning ;  which  was  the  Word,  by  which  all  things  were  made  ; 
which  Word  became  flesh,  and  dwelt  among  the  disciples, 
and  suffered  at  Jerusalem,  and  witnessed  a  good  confes- 
sion before  Pontius  Pilate ;  whom  Pilate  delivered  up  to 
the  Jews  and  the  chief  priests  and  elders,  whom  they 
mocked  and  despitefully  used,  and  put  to  death  concern- 
ing the  flesh ;  but  is  raised  up  by  the  Spirit  and  ascended 
into  glory ;  which  glory  he  prayed  for,  even  that  glory 
whereby  he  was,  at  first,  by  his  Father  glorified  in,  wherein 
he  is  glorified  in  his  saints,  and  is  God  over  all,  blessed  for 
ever." — P.  3.  Wyeth's  Christianity  continued,  p.  19. 

The  following  quotations  are  from  his  Journal,  viz. — 

To  the  Question  1st,  "  Whether  Jesus  Christ  hath  a 
body,  glorified  in  the  heavens,  distant  and  distinct  from 
the  bodies  of  his  saints  here  below  ?"  George  Whitehead 
answers — 

"  Answer. — Yea,  as  a  glorified  body  is  distinct  from 
natural,  or  earthly  bodies,  and  heaven  from  the  earth. 

"  Second. — Whether  the  blood  that  Jesus  Christ  shed  at 
Jerusalem,  is  the  blood  that  believers  are  justified  by?  Or 
whether  he  dies  in  men  for  their  justification  ? 

"  Answer. — Both  sanctification,  forgiveness  of  sins, 
cleansing  from  sin,  and  justification,  are  sometimes  ascribed 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


95 


to  the  blood  of  Christ,  and  to  the  Spirit  of  our  God, 
and  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ ;  which  effects,  works,  and  ma- 
nifests the  same  in  all  true  believers. 

"  But  here  are  two  questions  put  for  one  ;  the  first,  ap- 
pears not  a  scriptural,  or  proper  question  :  where  does  the 
Scripture  use  those  words,  viz.  '  the  blood  that  Jesus  Christ 
shed  V  Seeing  it  was  by  wicked  hands  he  was  put  to  death, 
and  his  blood  shed  upon  the  cross  ?  Yet  as  the  blood  of 
Jesus  Christ  is  put  for,  or  represents,  his  life,  which  he  laid 
down,  and  even  the  offering  and  sacrifice  of  himself  at 
Jerusalem,  that  was  a  most  acceptable  sacrifice  and  of  a 
sweet  smelling  savour  to  God,  for  mankind ;  respecting  his 
great  dignity  and  obedience,  who  humbled  himself  even  to 
the  death  of  the  cross,  and  gave  himself  a  ransom  for  all 
men,  for  a  testimony  in  due  time  :  And  his  sacrifice,  media- 
tion, and  intercession,  hath  opened  a  door  of  mercy  for 
mankind  to  enter  in  at,  through  true  repentance  toward 
God,  and  faith  toward  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  which  are 
wrought  in  man,  (that  obeys  his  call  thereto,)  only  by  his 
grace  and  good  spirit,  unto  sanctification  and  justification, 
in  the  name  and  power  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  of 
God  is  made  unto  us,  wisdom,  righteousness,  sanctification 
and  redemption.  God's  great  love  tow^ard  mankind,  was 
manifest,  in  his  dear  Son  Jesus  Christ,  and  God  was  in 
Christ,  reconciling  the  world  to  himself,  not  imputing  their 
trespasses  unto  them,  2  Cor.  v.  19. 

"  The  latter  question  of  the  second,  is  groundless  and 
perverse.  We  know  neither  Scripture,  nor  minister  among 
us,  that  asserts  Christ's  dying  in  men,  for  their  justification, 
but  that  once  he  died,  that  is,  for  our  sins,  and  rose  again 
tor  our  justification,  and  that  he  ever  lives  to  make  interces- 
sion ;  and  death  has  no  more  dominion  over  him.  Christ 
Jesus  lives  and  reigns  for  ever,  in  the  power  and  glory  of 
the  Father ;  although  some  are  said  to  crucify  to  themselves 
the  Lord  of  life  afresh,  and  to  tread  under  foot  the  Son  of 
God,  which  cannot  be  taken  properly  in  a  literal  sense,  but 
by  their  contempt  of  truth  and  doing  despite  to  his  Spirit 
of  grace,  as  some  malicious  apostates  have  done,  not  to  their 
justification,  but  condemnation. 

"  What  any  of  us,  or  among  us,  have  spoken  or  written 
of  the  Seed  or  Word,  which  the  Son  of  Man,  Jesus  Christ, 
sows  in  men's  hearts,  and  of  the  same  being  oppressed,  or 
suffering  in  some,  or  as  being  choked  with  worldly  cares, 


96  ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OP  JESUS  CHRIST. 

and  the  love  of  riches  in  others,  &:c.  These  and  many 
such  Hke  expressions  may  have  been  used  according  to  the 
parables  and  simihtudes,  which  Christ  Jesus  himself  spake, 
relating  to  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  the  word,  or  seed  of 
hfe  and  grace,  sown  by  him  in  men's  hearts  ;  and  likewise 
of  grieving,  vexing,  and  quenching  his  Spirit  in  them,  by 
their  disobedience  ;  and  yet  by  all  these  never  to  intend  or 
mean,  that  Christ  himself  properly  dies  in  men  for  their 
justification,  although  his  Spirit  be  both  grieved  and 
quenched  in  many  ;  and  many  do  lose  the  true  sense  of  his 
living  word  in  themselves,  by  suffering  their  souls'  enemy, 
to  draw  out  their  minds  from  that  Seed,  that  Word,  that 
Light,  that  Spirit  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  them,  which 
(in  itself,  in  its  own  being)  never  dies.  The  immortal 
Seed,  the  immortal  Word,  is  of  an  immortal  being,  though 
many  be  dead  thereunto  in  their  trespasses  and  sins." — 
Pages  149,  150,  151.  1659. 

"  And  if  God  spared  not  his  own  Son,  but  delivered  him 
up  for  us  all,  how  shall  he  not  with  him  also,  freely  give  us 
all  things  ?  Rom.  viii.  32. 

"  Jesus  Christ  showed  his  own  and  heavenly  Father's 
great  love  to  all  men,  as  he  is  the  Light  of  the  world,  and 
given  for  a  light  unto  the  Gentiles,  and  to  be  God's  salva- 
tion to  the  ends  of  the  earth  ;  and  also  in  his  dying  for  all 
men ;  by  the  grace  of  God  tasting  death  for  every  man  ; 
giving  himself  a  ransom  for  all  men,  and  in  making  inter- 
cession, both  for  transgressors  and  for  the  saints ;  also 
according  to  the  will  of  God,  even  in  heaven  itself,  he  ap- 
pears in  the  presence  of  God  for  us,  and  also  by  his  holy 
Spirit  in  all  true  believers :  his  Spirit  maketh  intercession, 
helpeth  our  infirmities,  moves  and  assists  us  in  prayer. 
They  who  are  sons  of  God,  are  sensible  that  he  hath  sent 
forth  the  Spirit  of  his  Son  into  their  hearts,  crying,  Abba, 
Father,  Gal.  iv.  G. 

"  The  humility,  mercy,  and  condescension,  of  Jesus 
Christ,  our  blessed  Mediator,  are  such,  that  he  is  touched 
with  the  feeling  of  our  infirmities,  weaknesses  and  tempta- 
tions, and  ready  to  succour,  help,  and  relieve  all  them  that 
are  tempted,  even  by  his  grace  and  good  Spirit,  in  their 
drawing  near  to  the  throne  of  his  mercy  and  grace. 

"  O  faithful  Creator,  O  King  of  saints,  O  merciful  High 
Priest,  O  compassionate  Mediator,  let  thy  light  and  thy 
truth  shine  forth  more  and  more  to  the  glory  of  thy  great 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


97 


and  excellent  name  and  power,  and  expel  the  great  dark- 
ness of  apostacy  that  has  covered  many  nations  and  pro- 
fessions of  Christianity,  and  greatly  appeared  in  these  lat- 
ter times  against  thy  light,  thy  truth  and  people,  whom 
thou  hast  called,  and  delivered  out  of  darkness,  into  thy 
marvellous  light.  Glory  and  dominion  be  to  thy  great 
name  and  power,  for  ever  and  ever." — Pages  211,  212. 
 1659. 

The  following  is  extracted  from  a  work,  entitled  "  The 
Divinity  of  Christ,  and  Unity  of  the  Three  that  bear  Re- 
cord in  Heaven,  with  the  blessed  end  and  effects  of  Christ's 
appearance,  coming  in  the  flesh,  suffering  and  sacrifice  for 
sinners,  confessed  and  vindicated  by  his  followers  the 
Quakers." 

"  The  Divinity  of  Christ  confessed  by  us  called  Qua- 
kers, and  what  we  own,  touching  the  Deity  or  Godhead, 
according  to  the  Scriptures. 

"  That  there  is  but  one  God,  the  Father,  of  whom  are  all 
things,  and  we  in  him,  and  one  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  by  whom 
are  all  things,  and  we  by  him.  That  there  are  Three  that 
bear  record  in  heaven,  the  Father,  the  Word,  and  the 
Spirit,  and  that  these  three  are  one,  both  in  divinity,  di- 
vine substance,  and  essence,  not  three  Gods,  nor.  separate 
beings. 

"  That  they  are  called  by  several  names  in  scripture, 
as  manifest  to,  and  in,  the  saints,  (for  whatsoever  may  be 
known  of  God  is  manifest  in  man,  Rom.  i.)  and  their  re- 
cord received  as  the  full  testimony  of  three,  by  such  as 
truly  know  and  own  the  record  of  the  three  in  earth  ;  and 
yet,  they  are  eternally  one  in  nature  and  being:  one 
infinite  Wisdom,  one  Power,  one  Love,  one  Light  and 
Life,  &c. 

"  W^e  never  denied  the  Divinity  of  Christ,  as  most  inju- 
riously we  have  been  accused  by  some  prejudiced  spirits, 
who  prejudicially,  in  their  perverse  contests,  have  sought 
occasion  against  us;  as  chiefly  because  when  some  of  us 
were  in  dispute  with  some  Presbyterians,  we  could  not  own 
their  unscriptural  distinctions  and  terms,  touching  the  Fa- 
ther, the  Word,  and  the  Holy  Spirit ;  to  wit,  of  their  being 
incommunicable,  distinct,  separate  persons  or  substances  ; 
whereas,  the  Father,  the  Word,  and  Spirit,  are  one,  not 
to  be  compared  to  corruptible  men,  nor  to  finite  crea- 
tures or  persons,  which  are  limitable  and  separable.  For 


98  ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


the  only  wise  God,  the  Creator  of  all,  who  is  one,  and  his 
name  one,  is  infinite  and  inseparable.  And  the  Father's 
begetting  the  Son,  and  the  Spirit's  being  sent,  we  wit- 
ness to  and  own,  as  He  said,  Thou  art  my  Son,  this  day 
have  1  begotten  thee.  And  he  hath  sent  his  Spirit  into 
our  hearts.  Gal.  iv.  6.  And  that  the  feather  is  in  the 
Son,  and  the  Son  in  the  Father,  yea  in  the  bosom  of  the 
Father :  so  that  they  are  neither  divided  nor  separate, 
being  one,  and  of  one  infinite  nature  and  substance  :  Christ 
being  the  image  of  the  invisible  God,  the  First-Born  of 
every  creature,  by  whom  all  things  were  created,  both  in 
heaven  and  earth,  Col.  i.  Yea,  the  Son  of  God  is  the 
brightness  of  his  glory  and  the  express  image  of  his  sub- 
stance, Heb.  i.  3.  And  that  it  was  in  due  time,  God  was 
manifest  in  flesh,  1  Tim.  iii.  16.  As  in  the  fulness  of  time 
God  sent  his  Son,  Gal.  iv.  And  the  Son  of  God  was  made 
manifest  to  destroy  sin,  1  John  iii.  8.  And  a  manifesta- 
tion of  the  Spirit  is  given  to  every  man  to  profit  withal,  1 
Cor.  xii.  So  the  manifestation  of  the  Father,  of  the  Son 
and  Holy  Spirit,  we  confess  to,  and  own  to  be  in  unity, 
and  so,  the  only  true  God,  according  to  the  Scriptures. 

"  And  that  Jesus  Christ,  being  in  the  form  of  .God, 
thought  it  no  robbery  to  be  equal  with  God  ;  and  yet,  as  a 
Son,  in  the  fulness  of  time  was  sent  of  the  Father,  and 
took  on  him  the  form  of  a  servant,  Phil.  ii.  6,  7.  in  which 
state  he  said.  My  Father  is  greater  than  T,  John  xiv.  28. 
And  he  learned  obedience  through  suffering,  and  was  made 
perfect,  and  is  become  an  everlasting  High  Priest,  after 
the  order  of  Melchizedeck,  and  is  the  author  of  eternal 
salvation  unto  all  them  that  obey  him,  Heb.  v.  And  God 
hath  given  us  eternal  life  in  his  Son..  And  unto  us  a  Child 
is  born,  and  a  Son  is  given,  to  govern,  whose  name  is  Won- 
derful Counsellor,  the  mighty  God,  the  everlasting  Father, 
the  Prince  of  Peace.  And  he  is  over  all,  God  blessed  for 
ever,  even  the  true  God  and  eternal  life. 

"  So  that  the  Deity,  or  Divinity  of  Christ,  in  his  eternal, 
infinite,  glorious  state,  we  really  confess  and  own,  having 
known  his  virtue  and  power  to  redeem  us  from  our  vain 
conversations,  and  to  save  us  from  wrath  to  come." 

"  Also  we  judge  that  such  expressions  and  words,  as  the 
Holy  Ghost  taught  the  true  apostles  and  holy  men,  men- 
tioned in  theScripture,  are  most  meet  to  speak  of  God  and 
Christ,  and  not  the  words  of  man's  wisdom  or  human 
inventions  and  devised  distinctions,  since  the  apostles'  days. 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


99 


"  Finally,  We  have  received  an  unction  or  anointing 
from  the  Holy  One,  which  as  it  doth  teach  us,  we  know  a 
continuance  in  the  Father  and  in  the  Son,  1  John  ii.  And 
for  whom  we  know  the  Father  is  well  pleased,  and  in  him 
we  know  the  true  satisfaction,  justification,  and  peace, 
which  all  that  abide  in  him  enjoy  and  witness. 

"  Now  unto  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Spirit,  the  one 
eternal  Word,  the  only  wise,  pure,  perfect  God,  who  is 
infinite,  omnipotent,  incomprehensible,  who  giveth  unto 
all,  life  and  being,  and  is  the  Life  of  all,  and  the  Being  of 
beings,  who  filleth  all  in  all  with  his  presence,  unto  whom 
be  glory  now  and  for  ever  more,  saith  our  souls. 

GEORGE  WHITEHEAD." 

Introduction,  p.  23.  1669. 

"  As  also,  how  have  many  ignorant  people,  in  the  time 
of  darkness,  been  begotten  into  vain  imaginations  touch- 
ing the  Godhead,  by  such  doctrine  aforesaid,  contrary  to 
Scripture  language,  as  to  think  God  to  be  like  unto  a  man 
or  person  ;  whereas  he  is  a  Spirit,  he  is  invisible,  even  that 
eternal  Word  or  Spirit,  which  made  all  things  ;  and  Christ 
is  the  image  of  the  invisible  God,  not  divided  nor  separate 
from  him  whose  image  he  is.  And  though  in  the  world 
there  are  gods  many  and  lords  many,  yet  to  us  there  is  but 
one  God  the  Father,  of  whom  are  all  things,  and  we  in  him, 
and  one  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  by  whom  are  all  things,  and 
we  by  him,  1  Cor.  viii.  6.  So  that  it  was  never  any  de- 
sign, or  plot  of  ours,  to  endeavour  to  prejudice  the  minds 
of  any  against  the  Deity  of  Christ  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  as 
falsely  and  blasphemously  we  are  accused  by  this  our 
prejudiced  opposer." — Page  19. 

When  replying  to  T.  Vincent's  argument  relative  to  a 
strict  and  rigid  satisfaction,  he  says — 

"  He  should  have  produced  his  plain  Scripture,  for 
Scripture  we  own  ;  and  Christ's  satisfaction  as  rightly 
stated  ;  and  what  a  most  acceptable  sacrifice  he  was  to 
the  Father  for  all ;  yea,  his  suffering  as  Man,  or  in  the 
flesh,  without  the  gates  of  Jerusalem,  was  all  acceptable 
to  God  :  his  soul  was  also  made  an  offering  for  sin,  and 
that  he  was  a  Lamb  slain  from  the  foundation  of  the 
world.  The  mystery,  virtue,  and  effects  of  his  sufferings, 
none  know  but  they  that  believe  in  his  name,  and  receive 
the  righteousness  of  faith." — Page  45. 

Again  on  page  49 — "  That  the  Son  of  man  came  to 


100        ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 

give  his  life  a  ransom  for  many,  and  that  he  is  the  propi- 
tiation, through  faith  in  his  blood,  and  that  in  due  time  he 
died  for  the  ungodly,  bare  our  sins  in  his  own  body  upon 
the  tree,  that  he  was  wounded  for  the  transgressions  of  the 
people  ;  that  he  hath  loved  us,  and  given  himself  for  us,  an 
offering  and  sacrifice  to  God,  for  a  sweet  smelling  savour  ; 
yea  we  own  and  confess  to  Christ  in  his  suffering,  being 
an  offering,  dying  for  the  ungodly,  more  than  you  Presby- 
terians do — first  as  to  the  universal  love  of  God,  showed 
forth  therein ;  secondly,  as  to  the  virtue,  power,  and  ef- 
fects of  his  death,  sacrifice,  blood,  (fee. 

"  First.  In  that  he  died  for  all  men,  for  the  ungodly  in 
general  ;  tasted  death  for  everj  man  ;  gave  himself  a  ran- 
som for  all,  to  be  testified  of  in  due  time;  that  he  is  the 
propitiation  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world  ;  which  you  say 
is  but  for  a  few  only,  for  a  select  number,  the  world  of 
believers,  &c." 

"  Then  secondly :  The  power  of  Christ,  and  his  blessed 
effects  in  his  death,  acceptable  sacrifice,  &lc.  we  own  more 
than  they ;  for  he  gave  himself  to  redeem  man  from  sin 
and  transgression,  and  the  servitude  of  it,  and  his  blood 
purgeth  the  conscience,  cleanseth  from  all  sin ;  his  flesh 
is.  given  for  the  life  of  the  world,  that  man  may  come  to 
rise  out  of  sin,  and  live  agairt  to  God  in  perfect  righteous- 
ness :  God  hath  set  him  forth  to  be  a  propitiation,  through 
faith  in  his  blood,  to  declare  his  righteousness  for  the  re- 
mission of  sins  past,  through  the  forbearance  of  God." 

In  his  "  Reply  to  John  Owen's  Declaration,  &;c."  he 
says — 

"As  to  Socinianism,  as  he  calls  it,  we  are  neither  dis- 
cipled  in  it,  nor  baptized  into  Socinus's  name,  neither  do 
we  own  him  for  our  author  or  pattern  in  those  things  which 
we  believe  and  testify ;  nor  yet  do  we  own  several  princi- 
ples which  John  Owen  relates  as  being  from  Socinus,  and 
principally  that  of  Christ's  being  (God,  but)  not  the  Most 
High  God.  It  was  never  our  principle:  for  though  we  do 
confess  to  his  condescension,  humihty,  and  suffering,  in 
the  days  of  his  flesh,  wherein  he  appeared  in  the  form  of 
a  servant,  being  made  in  fashion  as  a  man :  but  his  being 
in  the  form  of  God,  in  the  divine  nature  of  God,  wherein 
he  was  equal  with  God,  and  being  glorified  with  the  same 
glory  he  had  with  the  Father  before  the  world  began,  and 
liis  being  God  over  all,  blessed  for  ever,  these  things  we 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OP  JESUS  CHRIST.  101 


professed  and  believed  in  the  beginnings  and  do  the  same 
still ;  it  never  being  in  our  hearts  in  the  least  to  oppose  or 
desert  them."— P.  55. 

Speaking  on  the  doctrine  of  justification  by  the  righte- 
ousness of  Jesus  Christ,  in  opposition  to  an  opponent,  he 
says — 

"  And  yet  they  must  confess  that  Christ  never  sinned, 
nor  could  sin^  neither  was  there  guile  found  in  his  mouth," 
(fee— P.  81.  1669. 

From  a  work  entitled  "  Antichrist  in  Flesh  Unmasked," 
the  following  Christian  testimony  is  extracted,  viz. — 

"We  sincerely  profess  and  declare  in  the  sight  of  God 
and  men,  that  we  do  faithfully  believe  and  profess  the 
divinity  and  humanity,  or  manhood,  of  our  blessed  Lord 
and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  the  eternal  Word  of  God :  and 
that  in  the  fulness  of  time  he  took  flesh,  being  miraculously 
conceived  by  the  Holy  Ghost  and  born  of  the  Virgin 
Mary,  and  suffered  the  cruel  death  of  the  cross,  as  an 
universal  offering  and  sacrifice,  both  in  his  body  and 
blood  shed  thereon,  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world  ;  and 
was  buried  and  rose  again  the  third  day,  and  visibly 
ascended  (was  seen  in  his  ascending)  and  passed  into 
heaven  and  glory ;  and  that  he  ascended  far  above  all 
heavens,  that  he  might  fill  all  things ;  and  that  by  his. 
suffering  and  sacrifice  he  hath  obtained  eternal  redemption 
for  us,  which,  through  faith  in  his  name  and  power,  true 
repentance  and  conversion,  we  livingly  receive  and  effec- 
tually partake  of. 

**That  we  are  not  pardoned,  justified,  redeemed  or 
saved  by  our  own  righteousness,  works,  merits  or  deserv- 
ings ;  but  by  the  righteousness,  merits  and  works  of  this 
our  blessed  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  being  both 
imparted  and  imputed  to  us,  as  He  is  of  God  made  unto 
us,  wisdom,  righteousness,  sanctification  and  redemption. 
Our  reconciliation,  redemption,  pardon,  sanctification  and 
justification,  having  respect  both  to  his  suffering  death, 
and  blood,  upon  the  cross,  as  the  one  peace  offering  and 
sacrifice,  and  as  our  High  Priest,  thereby  making  atone- 
ment and  reconciliation  for  us,  and  giving  himself  a  ransom 
for  all  mankind :  and  also  to  the  effectual  saving  work  of 
his  grace  and  good  Spirit  within  us,  bringing  us  to  expe- 
rience true  repentance,  regeneration  and  the  new  birth, 
wherein  we  partake  of  the  fellowship  of  Christ's  sufferings 

9* 


102 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


and  power  of  his  resurrection.  In  which  grace  we  ought 
to  persevere  in  newness  of  hfe  and  faithful  obedience  unto 
him,  unto  the  end,  that  we  may  be  heirs  of  the  eternal 
salvation,  which  Christ  is  the  author  of. 

"  We  sincerely  believe  also,  that  the  man  Christ  Jesus, 
is  the  only  Mediator  between  God  and  men,  our  Interces- 
sor and  Advocate  with  the  Father ;  and  that  he  exerciseth 
his  kingly  office,  and  his  priestly  and  prophetical  office  in 
his  kingdom  and  church  here  on  earth,  wherein  he  governs, 
and  plentifully  affords  both  immediate  inspiration  and 
instruction  to  his  faithful  followers  who  walk  in  his  light, 
to  guide  them  into  all  truth  ;  and  he  that  hath  not  the 
Spirit  of  Christ  is  none  of  his. 

"And  that  this  same  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  died  for 
all  men,  enlightens  every  man  coming  into  the  world,  and 
was  and  is  the  light  of  the  world,  the  Way,  the  Truth, 
and  the  Life :  and  that  the  same  Christ  that  was  crucified 
and  put  to  death  as  concerning  the  flesh,  and  quickened 
by  the  Spirit  and  power  of  the  Father,  he  is  inwardly 
revealed  and  spiritually  in  the  hearts  of  true  and  spiritual 
believers  by  his  holy  Spirit,  light,  life  and  grace.  And 
that  therefore  his  coming  and  appearing  outwardly  in  the 
flesh  and  inwardly  in  the  Spirit,  cannot  render  him  two 
Christs,  but  one  and  the  same  very" Christ  of  God,  blessed 
'for  evermore."    P.  SO.  -1692. 

In  his  "  Inriocency  Triumphant,"  &lc.  he  says  : 

"  To  prevent  mistake,  and  remove  misrepresentation  in 
the  matters  following,  these  are  sincerely  to  testify  and 
declare  that, 

"  1st,  We  sincerely  own,  profess  'and  confess  Jesus  to 
be  the  Christ,  even  the  same  Jesus  Christ  who  was  born 
of  the  Virgin  Mary  at  Bethlehem  in  Judea,  Matt.  ii.  Suf- 
fered death  upon  the  cross  without  the  gates  of  Jerusalem, 
was  quickened  and  raised  again  by  the  power  of  God,  and 
ascended  into  heaven  and  glory,  according  to  the  Scriptures. 

''2d.  We  give  witness  only  to  this  Christ,  as  being  the 
very  Christ,  the  only  begotten  Son  of  God,  and  confess 
both  his  coming  in  the  flesh  and  in  the  Spirit,  according 
to  Holy  Scripture  testimony. 

"  3d.  Though  this  Christ,  the  only  begotten  Son  of  God, 
took  flesh  and  came  of  tlie  seed  of  Abraham,  according  to 
the  flesh,  and  suffered  death  in  the  flesh ;  yet  his  flesh  or 
body  prepared  for  him,  did  not  see  corruption  ;  it  did  not 


ON  THE  DrviNITr  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


103 


corrupt,  but  was  raised  again  from  the  dead,  consequently 
did  not  perish ;  nor  is  his  body  of  a  perishing  nature,  but 
a  glorified  body  ;  like  unto  which,  we  believe,  ours  shall 
be  changed  and  fashioned." — [4th,  5th,  6th  and  7th,  on  the 
Scriptures,  &c.] 

8th.  The  promised  Messiah,  of  whom  the  holy  pro- 
phets give  witness,  is  the  very  Christ  of  God,  even  that 
Jesus  Christ  who  was  born  of  the  Virgin;  who  in  the 
fulness  of  time  came  in  the  l!esh,  and  was  made  like  unto 
us  in  all  things,  sin  only  excepted,  as  the  Scripture  testifies. 
Yet, 

"  9th.  The  glorious  body  of  Christ  is  not  now  like  ours, 
nor  of  an  earthly  perishing  nature,  but  heavenly,  spiritual, 
and  most  glorious ;  far  excelling  all  terrestrial  bodies." — 
Introduction,  p.  1,  &;c.  1693. 

To  the  charge  of  undervaluing  the  death  and  sufferings 
of  Christ,  &c.  George  Whitehead  thus  replies,  viz. — 

"  We  deny  these  charges,  as  expressly  contrary  to  our 
principle,  and'  public,  known  testimonies,  both  highly 
valuing  and  exalting  the  death  and  sutTerings  of  Christ 
above  all  other.  His  charging  the  Quakers  to  exalt  [with 
exalting]  their  sufi^erings  above  the  sufferings  of  Christ, 
imports  as  if  they  so  lifted  up,  extolled,  dignified  or  ren- 
dered their  sufferings  more  excellent  than  Christ's.  This 
is  a  most  gross  calumny  cast  upon  the  people  called 
Quakers,  and  as  expressly  contrary  to  their  intention  and 
principle." — Counterfeit  Convert,  Lc.  p.  34.  1694. 

Replying  to  another  accuser,  he  says: — 

"  Thy  inferring  that  he  who  was  nailed  to  the  cross, 
was  not  Christ,  but  a  body,  a  veil,  a  garment,  of  an  earthly, 
perishing  nature,  &c.  Here  again  thou  pervertest  and 
abusest  us.  Where  did  we  ever  say  that  He  who  so 
suffered  was  not  Christ,  but  a  body,  a  veil,  <^c.  ?  Seeing  it 
was  Christ  that  suffered  in  the  flesh,  and  his  flesh  was 
called  the  veil,  Heb.  x.  What  contempt  to  Christ  or  denial 
of  him  was  such  saying?  And  where  did  ever  any  of  us 
say,  that  his  body  that  was  nailed  to  the  cross,  was  of  a 
perishing  nature,  seeing  his  flesh  saw  no  corruption  ?" — 
lb.  p.  59.  1694. 

In  his  "  Counterfeit  Convert  a  Scandal  to  Christianity," 
replying  to  the  charge  "  that  the  Quakers  deny  Jesus  of 
Nazareth,  who  was  born  of  the  blessed  virgin  Mary,  to  be 


104 


ON  THE  DIVITs'ITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


Christ,  and  the  efficient  cause  of  man's  salvation,"  he 
says — 

"  Here  are  two  charges  made  one,  both  which  we  posi- 
tively and  sincerely  deny,  as  contrary  to  our  professed  and 
known  principles.  The  Scripture  texts,  proving  Jesus  to 
be  the  Christ,  we  ever  have  and  do  sincerely  believe  and 
own.  But  that  the  Quakers  teach  the  contrary,  as  Biigg 
saith,  we  utterly  deny,  as  a  gross  calumny  imposed  upon 
us." 

"  And  therefore  Francis  Bugg's  inference,  that  the  Qua- 
kers would  divide  the  humanity  [of  Jesus  Christ]  from  the 
Godhead,  is  false  :  they  are  distinguished,  but  not  divided, 
in  the  entire  being  of  Christ."    Pages  12,  13.  1694. 

From  his  work,  entitled  "  Truth  Prevalent,"  the  follow- 
ing is  extracted : 

"  As  we  have  great  cause  ever  to  own  Christ  to  be  our 
Saviour,  so  they  who  are  saved  by  him,  have  need  of  him 
as  Mediator,  to  preserve,  strengthen  and  confirm  them  in 
the  way  of  righteousness  and  purity  to  the  end  ;  and  that 
their  faith  may  not  fail  when  tempted  and  assaulted  by 
the  enemy ;  and  that  when  the  whole  church  is  complete, 
and  come  to  a  perfect  man  in  Christ,  He,  their  Mediator, 
may  present  it  unto  the  Father,  a  glorious  church,  without 
spot  or  wrinkle,  or  any  such  thing."    P.  59. 

Again,  on  p.  67  : 

"But  'tis  a  perversion  to  say,  we  pretend  to  only  a 
manifestation  of  Christ  within,  his  inward  life,  death, 
blood,  resurrection,  and  ascension,  and  that  we  pretend  to 
feel,  taste  and  .see  these  things  within  us  every  day.  But 
where  we  (the  Quakers)  so  pretend,  they  produce  no 
proof.  We  truly  own  these  according  to  sacred  history,  as 
transacted  in  Christ's  person  without  us,  as  well  as  to  feel 
and  taste  of  the  power  of  Christ's  resurrection  within  us  ; 
as  also  of  the  fruit,  blessed  effects,  and  fellowship  of  his 
sufferings,  when  made  conformable  to  his  death,  which 
there  is  a  necessity  to  have  some  sense  and  experience  of 
within  us,  as  well  as  a  confessing  of  his  suffering,  death, 
resurrection  arid  ascension  without  us,  which  we  trujy  • 
believe,  as  well  as  these  persons,  and  we  hope  more 
effectually." 

In  the  same  work,  page  1 42,  he  says  : 

"  I  believe  Christ's  mediation,  suffering  and  death  for 
mankind,  took  effect  from  the  beginning,  ever  since  man 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OP  JESUS  CHRIST.  106 

fell,  and  the  blessed  effects  and  fruit  thereof,  for  man's 
redemption,  shall  continue  to  the  end  of  the  world.  And 
the  eminent  love  and  respect  God  had  from  the  beginning, 
and  ever  will  have,  to  his  own  promised  Seed,  Christ  Jesus, 
and  to  all  that  he  did  and  suffered  for  the  redemption  and 
salvation  of  the  whole  Adam,  or  all  mankind,  the  excellent 
virtue,  merits,  or  deservings  of  Christ,  in  all  his  obedience, 
works,  and  sufferings  for  mankind,  did  reach  to  the  begin- 
ning of  the  world,  and  shall  to  the  end  thereof.  For  He, 
who  was  as  a  Lamb  slain  from  the  foundation  of  the  world, 
and  by  the  grace  of  God  tasted  death  for  every  man,  ever 
liveth  to  make  intercession  for  man,  according  to  the  will 
of  God.  And  also  to  effect  and  complete  that  work  of 
redemption  and  salvation  that  he  hath  obtained  for  us ; 
that  he.  may  be  our  King,  Priest,  and  Prophet,  our  Minis- 
ter, our  Leader,  and  Commander,  for  which  ends  he  was 
promised  and  given."    P.  143.  1701. 

In  a  "  Gospel  Salutation,  &;c.  recommended  to  Friends 
who  believe  in  the  name  of  the  Son  of  God,  the  true  Light, 
(Sic."  he  says — 

"  Surely  we,  believing  in  God,  who  gave  his  dear  Son 
for  our  redemption  and  salvation,  we  ought  also  to  believe 
in  his  Son,  as  our  great  Mediator  and  Advocate  with  the 
Father  :  considering  also  tha.t  Christ  Jesus,  his  being  given 
us,  as  our  Mediator  between  God  and  men,  and  his  giving 
himself  a  ransom  for  aJl  men,  for  a  testimony  in  due  time, 
and  his  dying  for  all  men,  his  tasting  death  for  every  man, 
<fcc.  did  all  proceed  from  the  great  love  of  God,  and  not  to 
pay  a  strict  or  rigid  satisfaction  for  vindictive  justice,  or 
revenge  on  God's  part ;  for  that  would  leave  no  place  for 
forgiveness  of  sins  past,  before  repentance  and  faith  in 
Christ  and  his  gospel  ;  seeing  the  good  will  and  blessed 
design  of  God,  setting  forth  Jesus  Christ  to  be  a  propitia- 
tion, through  faith  in  his  blood,  to  declare  his  righteousness 
for  the  remission  of  sins  that  are  past,  through  the  forbear- 
ance of  God,  whose  blood  cries  for  mercy  :  surely  that 
righteousness,  and  forbearance  of  God,  declared  by  the 
propitiatory  sacrifice  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  for  the  re- 
mission or  forgiveness  of  sins  that  are  past,  upon  true 
repentance,  cannot  justly  be  deemed  revenge,  or  vindictive 
justice,  as  son>e  have  asserted  against  us ;  but  a  free  act  of 
the  love,  and  wisdom  of  God,  to  give  his  Son,  and  in  him 
to  reconcile  the  world  to  himself,  and  not  to  impute  their 


106        ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 

sins  that  are  past  to  them,  when  thoroughly  reconciled  and 
united  in  heart  and  soul  unto  him,  by  his  grace  and  good 
Spirit. 

"Oh!  'Behold  the  Lamb  of  God,  which  taketh  away 
the  sin  of  the  world.'  In  what  respect  does  Jesus  Christ, 
as  the  Lamb  of  God,  take  away  the  sin  of  the  world  ?  I 
answer,  in  two  respects;  1st,  As  an  universal  and  most 
excellent  offering  and  acceptable  sacrifice  for  sin,  in  order 
to  obtain  redemption  and  forgiveness  by  his  precious  blood, 
and  even  of  a  most  sweet  smelling  savour  to  God,  far  ex- 
celling the  legal  and  typical  oblations  of  animals,  as  the 
offerings  and  blood  of  bulls,  goats,  heifers,  sheep,  rams, 
lambs,  (fee.  all  which  Jesus  Christ,  by  his  own  one  offering, 
put  an  end  unto. 

"  2.  Jesus  Christ,  as  the  Lamb  of  God,  takes  away  the 
sin  of  the  world,  by  purging  the  conscience,  and  purifying 
the  hearts  of  all  them  who  truly  receive  him  and  believe 
in  him,  even  in  his' holy  name  and  divine  power. 

"  O !  therefore,  behold  the  Lamb  of  God  which  taketh 
away  and  putteth  an  end  to  sin,  finisheth  transgression,  and 
brings  in  everlasting  righteousness. 

"  Let  us  all  look  unto  the  promised  Messiah,  even  unto 
Jesus,  the  author  and  finisher  of  our  faith,  that  we  all  may 
believe  in  heart  unto  righteousness,  and  the  salvation  of  our 
souls,  so  as  to  be  partakers  of  Christ  and  his  righteousness  ; 
that  none  may  draw  back  to  perdition,  nor  into  the  world's 
pollutions,  who  have  escaped  the  same  through  the  know- 
ledge of  God  and  his  dear  Son  Jesus  Christ,  who  is  able 
and  truly  willing  to  save  to  the  uttermost,  all  them  who 
come  unto  God  by  him. 

"  He  who  offered  up  himself  a  Lamb  without  spot  to 
God  for  all  mankind,  and  thereby  became  a  propitiation 
for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world,  never  designed  to  leave 
men  in  sin  and  transgression  all  their  days,  but  to  afford  all 
men  grace  to  lead  them  to  true  repentance,  that  they  might 
receive  that  remission,  forgiveness,  atonement,  and  recon- 
ciliation, obtained  for  them. 

"  That  God  was  in  Christ  reconciling  the  world  to  him- 
self, not  imputing  their  sins  unto  them,  but  allowing  and 
granting  them  remission  upon  true  repentance,  was,  and  is, 
a  testimony  and  plain  indication,  of  the  great  love,  grace, 
and  favour  of  God  to  the  world,  in  and  through  his  dear 
Son.  How  wonderfully  has  God,  in  his  great  wisdom,  love, 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.  107 


kindness,  meekness,  long  suffering  and  compassion,  conde- 
scended to  our  low  capacities  and  conditions  of  the  human 
race!  for  our  redemption  and  salvation,  by  his  dear  Son 
Jesus  Christ,  truly  considered,  both  as  he  came  and  suf- 
fered in  the  flesh,  and  as  he  is  revealed  in  the  Spirit.  O 
let  the  weighty  consideration  of  all  these  things,  deeply 
affect  all  our  hearts  and  souls,  sincerely  to  love,  serve,  fear, 
worship,  and  praise  the  Lord  our  most  gracious  God, 
through  Jesus  Christ,  for  ever  ! 

"  It  is  to  be  seriously  observed  and  remembered,  that 
when  Jesus  Christ  was  about  to  take  leave  of  his  disciples, 
he  recommended  them  unto  the  Spirit  of  truth,  the  Com- 
forter, which  should  testify  of  him  and  abide  with  them  for 
ever  ;  and  that  he  would  manifest  himself  to  him  that  loved 
Him,  and  that  in  a  little  while  they  (?.  e.  his  disciples) 
should  see  him,  that  is,  Christ  Jesus  ;  so  though  he  went 
away  in  the  body,  he  would  come  again  to  them  in  Spirit. 

"  Now,  dear  friends,  it  being  the  Holy  Spirit  which  tes- 
tifies of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  show  s  unto  us  what  he 
takes  of  Christ,  he  (?'.  e.  the  Holy  Spirit)  shall  take  of  mine, 
said  Christ,  and  show  it  unto  you. 

"  The  Holy  Ghost  takes,  and  shows  unto  us,  the  most 
excellent  properties  of  our  great  and  glorious  Mediator,  his 
great  universal  love,  meekness,  humility,  and  compassion, 
that  we  may  by  degrees  partake  thereof,  as  we  truly  obey 
and  follow  him  in  the  manifestation  .  of  the  same  Holy 
Spirit,  whereby  the  mystery  of  Christ  is  revealed,  in  and 
unto  the  truly  spiritually  minded  believers  in  his  light,  and 
thereby  they  become  the  children  of  the  light.*' 

"And  now,  dear  friends,  let  us  consider  the  only  begot- 
ten Son  of  God,  our  blessed  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  what 
confession  and  honour  is  given  unto  him  in  holy  Scripture, 
both  respecting  his  eternal  Deity  and  perfect  manhood,  and 
coming  therein  manifestly  in  due  time,  which  1  mention  in 
order  to  clear  us,  the  people  termed  Quakers,  from  the 
unjust  imputations  of  our  adversaries,  one  while  with  deny- 
ing the  Divinity,  another  while  with  denying  the  humanity 
of  Christ,  or  both,  as  some  have  done ;  and  to  prevent  all 
occasions  of  doubts  or  disputes  about  the  same  matter,  1 
refer  you  and  all  concerned  to  the  Scriptures  following, 
viz. — 

"  Isa.  vii.  14.    The  Lord  himself  shall  give  you  a  sign, 


108        ON  yUB  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


behold  a  Virgin  shall  conceive  and  bear  a  SON,  and  shall 
call  his  name  IMMANUEL. 

"  A  prophecy  of  Jesus  Christ,  respecting  his  birth  of  the 
virgin,  as  a  man  child,  and  his  being  Emnnanuel,  God  with 
us,  or  in  us. 

"  Isa.  ix.  6.  For  unto  us  a  child  is  born,  a  Son  is  given, 
and  the  government  shall  be  upon  his  shoulder,  and  his 
rrame  shall  be  called  Wonderful,  Counsellor,  the  Mighty 
God,  the  Everlasting  Father,  the  Prince  of  Peace  :  of  the 
increase  of  his  governmenttind  peace  there  shall  be  no  end. 

"  An  excellent  prophecy  and  testimony  of  Jesus  Christ, 
respecting  his  birth  as  a  man  child,  and  his  divine  wisdom 
and  Deity,  as  Mighty  God,  the  Everlasting  Father,  &c. 

"  Mic.  V.  2.  and  Matt.  i.  23.  and  ii.  1.  But  thou,  Bethle- 
hem Ephratah,  though  thou  be  little  among  the  thousands 
of  Judah,  yet  out  of  thee  shall  he  come  forth  unto  me,  that 
shall  be  ruler  in  Israel,. whose  goings  forth  have  been  from 
of  old,  from  everlasting. 

"  Showing  that  Christ  existed,  as  to  his  Divinity,  before 
he  was  born  in  Bethlehem  in  Judah. 

"  John  ch.  i.  to  ver.  14.  In  the  beginning  was  the  Word, 
and  the  Word  was  with  God  :  and  the  Word  was  God  : 
the  same  was  in  the  beginning  with  God ;  all  things  were 
made  by  Him,  &c.  Read  to  ver.  14.  And  the  Word  was 
made  flesh,  and  dwelt  among  us  ;  and  we  beheld  his  glory, 
as  the  glory  of  the  Only  Begotten  of  the  Father,  full  of 
grace  and  truth. 

Rom.  i.  3.  4.  Concerning  his  Son  Jesus  Christ,  which 
was  made  of  the  seed  of  David  according  to  the  flesh,  and 
declared  to  be  the  Son  of  God  with  power,  according  to 
the  Spirit  of  holiness,  by  the  resurrection  from  the  dead. 
And  Rom.  ix.  5.  Whose  are  the  fathers,  (speaking  of 
Israelites,)  and  of  whom,  as  concerning  the  flesh,  Christ 
came,  who  is  over  all,  God  blessed  for  ever. 

"  Hence,  that  Jesus  Christ  his  being  truly  Man  and  the 
Son  of  God,  and  God  over  all,  thus  declared  ;  1st,  respect- 
ing his  manhood,  'tis  said  of  him,  Luke  ii.  And  the  child 
grew  and  waxed  strong  in  spirit,  and  was  filled  with  wis- 
doni,  and  the  grace  of  God  was  with  him.  And  when 
twelve  years  old,  and  found  in  the  temple  among  the.  doc- 
tors, hearing  them  and  asking  them  questions,  all  that  heard 
him  were  astonished  at  his  understanding  and  answers, 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.  109 


Luke  ii.  40.  42.  46,  47.  and  52.  And  Jesus  increased  in 
wisdom  and  stature,  and  in  favour  with  God  and  men  :  O 
wonderful  child  !  and  most  excellent  heavenly  man !  He 
has  left  us  a  blessed  example,  in  order  to  follow  him,  and 
to  grow  in  his  grace  and  wisdom,  by  the  help  of  his  Holy 
Spirit  and  power. 

Consider  also  that  by  the  wonderous  works  and  mira- 
cles, that  Christ  wrought  on  earth  by  the  power  of  God, 
he  had  great  adoration  and  honour  in  many  hearts ;  and 
so  do  his  great  and  spiritual  cures,  which  by  divine  hght 
and  power  he  has  wrought  and  worketh  on  many  souls  in 
this  day :  glory  and  honour  to  his  name  for  ever.  See  Ps. 
X.  3.  and  cxlvi.  7.  Isa.  xlii.  6,  7.  John  xi.  25,  26.  Ephes. 
ii.  1,  &c. 

"  There's  no  cause  to  question,  Christ,  the  Son  of  God, 
whom  he  hath  highly  exalted,  having  a  name  given  him 
above  every  name,  whereunto  every  knee  shall  bow,  <S:c. 
Phil.  ii.  9.  Surely  the  Mighty  God,  or  God  over  all,  &:c. 
is  a  name,  yea,  a  power  divine,  above  every  other  name. 

"  Ephes.  iii.  9.  Colos.  i.  16.  And  to  make  all  men  see 
what  is  the  fellowship  of  the  mystery,  which  from  the  be- 
ginning of  the  world  hath  been  hid  in  God,  who  created 
all  things  by  Jesus  Christ.  For  by  him  were  all  things 
created,  that  are  in  heaven  and  that  are  in  earth,  visible 
and  invisible,  &c. 

"  As  God  created  all  things  in  heaven  and  in  earth, 
visible  and  invisible,  &:c.  by  Jesus  Christ ;  this  bespeaks 
his  being  the  eternal  Wisdom,  Power,  and  Word  of  God, 
John  i.  3.  Rev.  xix.  13. 

"  See  likewise  Heb.  i.  1,2.  God,  who  at  sundry  times, 
and  in  divers  manners,  spake  in  time  past  unto  the  fathers 
by  the  prophets,  hath  in  these  last  days  spoken  unto  us  by 
his  Son,  whom  he  hath  appointed  heir  of  all  things,  by 
whom  also  he  made  the  worlds. 

"  Then  the  Son  of  God  was  before  the  worlds  were 
made  ;  to  which  agrees  Heb.  xi.  3.  Through  faith  we  un- 
derstand, that  the  worlds  were  framed  by  the  Word  of  God. 

"  See  also  John  v.  21,  22,  23.  As  the  Father  raiseth  up 
the  dead,  and  quickeneth  them  ;  even  so  the  Son  quick- 
eneth  whom  he  will ;  for  the  Father  judgeth  no  man  ;  but 
hath  committed  all  judgment  unto  the  Son,  that  all  men 
should  honour  the  Son,  even  as  they  honour  the  Father  : 


110       ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


he  that  honoureth  not  the  Son,  honoureth  not  the  Father 
which  hath  sent  him. 

"  How  can  any  so  honour  the  Son,  who  count  him  only 
a  mere  man  ? 

"  John  xvii.  5.  And  now,  O  Father!  glorify  thou  me, 
with  thine  own  self,  with  the  glory  which  I  had  with  thee 
before  the  world  was. 

"  These  were  Christ's  own  words  and  testimony,  in  his 
prayer  to  the  Father. 

"  See  1  John  v.  20.  How  the  true  God  and  eternal  Life 
is  ascribed  to  the  Son  as  well  as  to  the  Father,  who  are 
one,  John  x.  30. 

"  It  is  also  observable, '  the  children  of  Israel,  who  were 
all  baptized  unto  Moses,  in  the  cloud  and  in  the  sea,  that 
they  did  all  eat  the  same  spiritual  meat,  and  did  all  drink 
of  the  same  spiritual  drink,  for  they  drank  of  the  spiritual 
rock  that  followed  them,  or,  went  with  them,  and  that 
rock  was  Christ.'  1  Cor.  x.  2,  3,  4. 

"  And  this  was  long  before  Christ  came  in  the  flesh  ; 
Christ  was  and  is  the  Rock  of  ages,  and  Foundation  of 
many  generations,  both  before  and  after  his  coming  in  the 
flesh. 

"  Now,  dear  and  well  beloved  friends,  forasmuch  as,  ever 
since  a  people,  we  have  beheved  in  Christ  as  the  true 
Light,  and  his  coming  in  the  flesh  ;  these  Scripture  testi- 
monies of  him,  as  to  his  divinity  and  manhood,  are  recited, 
rather  in  defence  of  our  Christian  faith  and  holy  profes- 
sion, against  our  adversaries,  unjustly  rendering  us  no 
Christians,  than  to  suppose  any  deficiency  on  your  parts 
relating  thereunto. 

"  The  Lord  be  with  you  all,  and  possess  your  hearts 
with  his  dear  love  and  divine  wisdom  in  Christ  Jesus. 


ISAAC  PENNINGTON. 

The  preface  to  a  tract,  entitled  "  A  Question  to  the 
Professors  of  Christianity,"  &;c.  begins  thus  : — 

"  This  is  life  eternal,  that  they  might  know  thee,  the 
only  true  God,  and  Jesus  Christ  whom  thou  hast  sent. 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.  Ill 

Whom  did  the  Father  send  ?  Did  he  not  send  the  Son  of 
his  Love  ?  From  whence  did  he  send  him  ?  Did  he  not 
send  him  out  of  his  own  bosom  ?  Whither  did  he  send 
him  ?  Did  he  not  send  him  into  the  world,  to  take  upon 
him  a  body,  and  glorify  the  name  of  the  Father,  doing  his 
will  therein  ?  He  laid  down  his  glory,  stripping  himself  of 
the  form  of  God,  and  appearing  in  habit  as  a  man,  in  their 
raiment,  with  their  garment  upon  him,  in  which,  as  a  ser- 
vant, the  Seed,  the  Heir  of  all,  served  the  Father ;  and 
now  his  work  being  as  good  as  done,  he  looks  back  at  the 
glory  which  he  had  laid  down  for  the  Father's  sake,  look- 
ing up  to  the  Father,  for  the  restoring  of  it  to  him  again. 
*  I  have  glorified  thee  on  the  earth,'  saith  he,  '  1  have 
finished  the  work  which  thou  gavest  me  to  do,  and  now, 
O  Father,  glorify  thou  me  with  thine  own  self,  with  the 
glory  which  1  had  with  thee  before  the  world  was,'  John 

xvii.  4,  5.""— Vol.  iii.  p.  25.  1667. 

In  his  "  Incitation  to  Professors,"  <Sz;c.  he  thus  writes  : — 
"  Now  this  we  have  often  found,  that  this  our  testimony 
hath  not  been  received  in  the  same  spirit  and  love,  wherein 
it  hath  gone  forth  ;  but  the  enemy,  by  his  subtlety,  hath 
raised  up  jealousies  concerning  us,  and  prejudices  against 
us,  as  if  we  denied  the  Scriptures  and  ordinances  of  God, 
and  that  Christ  that  died  at  Jerusalem  ;  professing  him 
only  in  words,  to  win  upon  others  by,  but  denying  him  in 
reality  and  substance. 

"  To  clear  this  latter,  (for  my  heart  is  only,  at  this  pre- 
sent, drawn  out  concerning  that,)  we  have  solemnly  pro- 
fessed in  the  sight  of  the  Lord  God,  who  hath  given  us 
the  knowledge  of  his  Son  in  life  and  power,  these  two 
things. 

"First,  That  we  do  really,  in  our  hearts,  own  that  Christ, 
who  came  in  the  fulness  of  time,  in  that  prepared  body, 
to  do  the  Father's  will,  his  coming  into  the  world,  doc- 
trine, miracles,  sufferings,  death,  resurrection,  &c.  in  plain- 
ness and  simplicity  of  heart,  according  as  it  is  expressed 
in  the  letter  of  the  Scriptures. 

"  Secondly,  That  we  own  no  other  Christ  than  that,  nor 
hold  forth  no  other  thing  for  Christ,  but  Him  who  then 
appeared  and  was  made  manifest  in  flesh." — Vol.  iii.  p.  59. 
 1667. 

In  replying  to  the  charge  that  the  Society  of  Friends 
denied  that  Christ  who  died  at  Jerusalem  ;  as  well  as  the 


112        ON  THE  DIVrNITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 

benefits  of  his  sufferings  and  death  ;  "  and  set  up  a  natural 
principle  within,  instead  thereof,"  Isaac  Pennington  says — 

"  To  remove  this  out  of  the  minds  of  the  honest  hearted 
who  in  the  guidance  of  God  might  light  on  this  paper,  I 
shall  open  my  heart  nakedly  herein,  viz. — 

"  First — We  do  own  that  the  Word  of  God,  the  only 
begotten  of  the  Father,  did  take  up  a  body  of  the  flesh 
of  the  Virgin  Mary,  who  was  of  the  seed  of  David,  ac- 
cording to  the  Scriptures,  and  did  the  will  of  the  Father 
therein,  in  holy  obedience  unto  him,  both  in  life  and 
death. 

"  Secondly — That  he  did  offer  up  the  flesh  and  blood  of 
that  body,  though  not  only  so  ;  for  he  poured  out  his 
soul,  he  poured  out  his  Hfe,  a  sacrifice  or  offering  for  sin, 
(do  not,  oh  !  do  not  stumble  at  it ;  but  rather  wait  on  the 
Lord  to  understand  it ;  for  we  speak  in  this  matter  what 
we  know  ;)  a  sacrifice  unto  the  Father,  and  in  it,  tasted 
death  for  every  man ;  and  that  it  is  upon  consideration, 
and  through  God's  acceptance  of  this  sacrifice  for  .sin, 
that  the  sips  of  behevers  are  pardoned,  that  God  might  be 
just,  and  the  justifier  of  him  which  believeth  in  Jesus,  or 
who  is  of  the  faith  of  Jesus."— Vol.  iii.  p.  33.  1667. 

In  an  essay,  entitled  "  Life  and  Immortality  brought  to 
Light  through  the  Gospel,"  he  thus  speaks  of  the  appear- 
ances of  Christ  under  the  law : — 

"  Various  were  the  appearances  of  Christ ;  sometimes 
as  an  angel  in  the  likeness  of  a  man ;  so  to  Abraham,  and 
so  to  Jacob,  when  Jacob  wrestled  with  him  and  prevailed, 
and  had  overcome ;  so  to  Joshua,  or  the  captain  of  the 
Lord's  host,  at  his  besieging  Jericho;  so  to  Moses  in  the 
bush,  he  appeared  as  an  angel.  Acts  vii.  35.  so  likewise  in 
visions.  Those  glorious  appearances  of  God  to  the  pro- 
phets in  visions,  were  the  appearances  of  Christ ;  as  par- 
ticularly, that  glorious  appearance  of  God,  sitting  upon  a 
throne,  and  in  his  train  filling  the  temple,  and  the  seraphims 
crying,  "  Holy  !  Holy  !  Holy  is  the  Lord  of  hosts,  his  glory 
is  the  fulness  of  the  whole  earth  !"  Isaiah  vi.  This  was  an 
appearance  of  Christ  to  Isaiah,  as  is  manifest,  John  xii.  41. 
where  the  evangelist,  relating  to  that  place,  useth  this  ex- 
pression :  '  These  things  said  Isaiah,  when  he  saw  his  glory, 
and  spake  of  him.  So  he  was  the  Angel  of  God's  presence, 
which  went  before  the  Jews,  in  all  their  journeyings  and 
travels  out  of  Egypt,  through  the  sea  and  in  the  wilderness, 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.  113 


and  in  the  time  of  the  judges ;  and  wrought  all  their  de- 
liverances for  them,  as  is  signified,  Isaiah  Ixiii.  9.  '  In  all 
their  afflictions  he  was  afflicted,  and  the  angel  of  his  pre- 
sence saved  them,'  &lc.  So  with  the  three  children,  he 
appeared  in  the  midst  of  the  fiery  furnace,  <•  in  a  form  like 
the  Son  of  God,'  as  Nebuchadnezzar  judged,  Dan.  iii.  25." 
—Vol.  iv.  p.  94.  1671. 

In  his  "  Observations  concerning  the  Priesthood  of  Jesus 
Christ,"  he  says — 

"Observation  1. — Who  is  the  Apostle,  and  High  Priest 
of  our  profession  ?  It  is  Jesus  Christ  the  Son  of  God,  whom 
God  hath  appointed  Heir  of  all  things,  by  whom  he  made 
the  worlds,  and  who  is  the  express  image  of  his  Father's 
substance,  &c.  Heb.  i.  and  iii.  1.. 

"  Observation  2. — Why  this  High  Priest  was  to  suffer 
death  ?  which  was,  that  he  might  taste  death  for  every 
man,  and  so,  through  suffering,  become  a  perfect  Saviour, 
or  perfect  Captain  of  salvation,  to  all  the  sons  that  were  to 
be  brought  by  him  to  glory,  Heb.  ii.  9,  10." — Vol.  iv.  p. 
121. 

"  Mark ;  Christ  was  not  only  to  die,  and  so  offer  up  a 
sacrifice  of  atonement,  but  he  was  also  to  make  recon- 
ciHation  by  it,  ever  afterwards  for  his  children,  in  case  of 
transgression,  whenever  occasion  should  be.  So  saith  John, 
'  If  any  man  sin,  we  have  an  advocate  with  Father,'  to 
plead  for  the  forgiving  and  blotting  out  of  the  sin,  '  and  he 
is  the  propitiation,  (or  reconciliation,)  for  our  sins,  as  the 
old  translation  renders  it,  1  John  ii.  1,  2." — Page  122. 

"Observation  16. — That  this  High  Priest  needeth  not 
to  offer  many  sacrifices  to  atone  by,  as  the  priests  under 
the  law  needed  to  do  often :  for  he  was  a  perfect  Priest, 
and  offered  up  one  perfect,  spotless  sacrifice;  and  'is  a 
propitiation  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world,'  vii.  27,  28." 
—P.  124. 

"  Observation  23. — For  what  cause,  Christ  was  Media- 
tor of  the  New  Testament  ?  which  was,  that  by  means  of 
death,  for  the  redemption  of  the  transgressors  under  the 
first  testament,  they  which  are  called  might  receive  the 
promise  of  eternal  inheritance,  verse  15.  For  God  hath 
made  Christ,  a  propitiation  for  all  men,  both  Jews  and 
gentiles,  that  through  faith  in  his  blood,  his  righteousness 
might  be  declared,  for  remission  of  sins  that  are  past, 
through  the  forbearance  of  God,  that  he  might  be  just,  and 


114        ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


a  justifier  of  him,  who  is  of  the  faith  of  Jesus,  Rom.  iii.  15, 
16.  So  that  thej  that  were  under  the  first  covenant, 
hearkening  unto  him,  and  beheving  in  him,  were  justified 
from  all  things,  from  which  they  could  not  be  justified  by 
the  law  of  Moses,  Acts  xiii.  39. 

"  Observation  24. — The  necessity  of  Christ's  death ; 
which  was,  because  he  was  to  make  way  by  his  own  blood 
into  the  holiest,  to  appear  before  God  for  us,  and  to  sprinkle 
the  heavenly  things  with  the  blood  of  a  Sacrifice,  of  an 
higher  and  better  nature,  than  the  blood  of  bulls  and  goats 
was ;  for  that  was  the  blood  of  the  covenant  which  was 
to  pass  away  ;  but  he  was  to  sprinkle  his,  with  the  blood  of 
the  everlasting  covenant ;  and  by  this  his  death  and  blood, 
sprinkled  upon  the  hearts  of  his,  his  covenant  comes  to  be 
offorce,  Heb.  x.  16,  to  25,  and  xiii.  20,  21."— Page  127. 

"  Observation  28. — That  we  are  sanctified  by  the  same 
will  by  which  Christ  was  sanctified,  or  sanctifieth  himself. 
In  subjection  to  the  same  will  which  the  Head  obeyed, 
(even  in  denying  themselves,  taking  up  the  cross  to  their 
own  wills  and  submitting  to  God's,)  are  the  members 
sanctified.  The  Spirit  of  God  works  them  into  holiness, 
by  this  will  of  God,  and  through  the  offering  of  the  body  of 
Jesus  Christ  once,  verse  10.  John  xvii.  19. 

"So  mark:  there  is  the  will  of  God,  the  ofiferingup  [of]  the 
body  of  Jesus,  the  pouring  out  the  Spirit  of  grace,  the  new 
covenant,  and  faith  in  Christ,  &c.  All  these  tend  to  work  out 
one  and  the  same  thing,  and  they  all  concur  thereto  in  their 
several  orders  and  places.'' — Vol.  iv.  p.  128.  1671. 

In  a  work  entitled  "  The  holy  Truth  and  People  De- 
fended," &LC.  he  thus  answers  the  charge  of  denying  re- 
demption by  the  blood  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Clirist,  viz. — 

"  And  as  for  denying  redemption  by  the  blood  of  Christ, 
oh !  how  will  he  answer  this  charge  to  God,  when  none 
upon  the  earth,  as  the  Lord  God  knoweth,  are  so  taught, 
and  do  so  rightly  and  fully  own  redemption  by  the  blood 
of  Christ,  as  the  Lord  hath  taught  us  to  do  !  For  we  own 
the  blood  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  both  outwardly  and 
inwardly ;  both  as  it  was  shed  on  the  cross,  and  as  it  is 
sprinkled  in  our  consciences ;  and  know  the  cleansing 
virtue  thereof  in  the  everlasting  covenant,  and  in  the  light 
which  is  eternal  ;  out  of  which  light,  men  have  but  a  notion 
thereof,  but  do  not  truly  know  nor  own  it." — Works,  vol. 
iii.  p.  234.  -1672. 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.  115 


In  reply  to  Thomas  Hicks,  who  accused  him  of  esteem- 
ing the  blood  of  Christ  no  more  than  a  common  thing,  he 
says — 

"  Herein  he  represents  me  wicked,  and  makes  me  speak, 
by  his  changing  and  adding,  that  which  never  was  in  my 
heart,  and  the  contrary  whereto,  I  have  several  times 
affirmed  in  that  very  book  where  those  several  queries 
were  put,  out  of  which  he  forms  this  his  own  query,  giving 
it  forth  in  my  name.  For  in  the  tenth  page  of  that  book, 
beginning  at  line  third,  I  positively  affirm  thus :  That 
Christ  did  offer  up  the  flesh  and  blood  of  that  body,  though 
not  only  so,  for  he  poured  out  his  soul,  he  poured  out  his 
life,  a  sacrifice  or  offering  for  sin,  a  sacrifice  .unto  the 
Father,  and  in  it  tasted  death  for  every  man  :  and  that  it  is 
upon  consideration,  and  through  God's  acceptance  of  this 
sacrifice  for  sin,  that  the  sins  of  believers  are  pardoned, 
that  God  might  be  just,  and  the  justifier  of  him  who 
believeth  in  Jesus,  or  who  is  of  the  faith  of  Jesus.  Is  this 
common  flesh  and  blood  ?  Can  this  be  affirmed  of  com- 
mon flesh  and  blood  ?  Ought  not  he  to  have  considered 
this,  and  other  passages  in  my  book,  of  the  same  tendency, 
and  not  thus  have  reproached  me,  and  misrepresented  me 
to  the  world  ?  Is  this  a  Christian  spirit ;  or  according  to  the 
law  or  prophets,  or  Christ's  doctrine?  Doth  he  herein  do 
as  he  would  be  done  by  ?  Oh  !  that  he  had  a  heart  to  con- 
sider it!"— Vol.  iii.  p.  407.  1675. 

In  the  preface  to  this  reply  to  the  aspersions  of  Thomas 
Hicks,  Isaac  Pennington  says  : — 

I  have  had  experience  of  that  despised  people  [the 
Quakers]  for  many  years,  and  I  have  often  heard  them, 
even  the  ancient  ones  of  them,  own  Christ  both  inwardly 
and  outwardly.  Yea,  I  heard  one  of  the  ancients  of  thenri, 
thus  testify  in  a  public  meeting,  many  years  since,  that  if 
Christ  had  not  come  in  the  flesh,  in  the  fulness  of  time,  to 
bear  oux  sins,  in  his  own  body  on  the  tree,  and  to  offer 
himself  up  a  sacrifice  for  mankind,  all  mankind  had  utterly 
perished.  What  cause  then  have  we  to  praise  the  Lord 
God  for  sending  his  Son  in  the  hkeness  of  sinful  flesh,  and 
for  what  his  Son  did  therein!" — Vol.  iii.  p.  403  1675. 

In  his  treatise  entitled  "  The  flesh  and  blood  of  Christ," 
&LC.  after  speaking  largely  of  that  mystical  body  and  blood 
of  Christ,  which  the  saints  feed  upon,  and  asserting  the 
necessity  of  a  participation  in  it,  he  adds  : — 


116     ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 

"  Now,  as  touching  the  outward  which  ye  say  we  deny, 
because  of  our  testimony  to  the  inward,  I  have  frequently 
given  a  most  solemn  testimony  thereto  :  and  God  knoweth 
it  to  be  the  truth  of  my  heart ;  and  that  the  testifying  to 
the  inward,  (from  which  the  outward  came,)  doth  not 
make  the  outward  void,  but  rather  establish  it,  in  its  place 
and  service.  God  himself,  who  knew  what  virtue  was  in 
the  inward,  yet  hath  pleased  to  make  use  of  the  outward, 
and  who  may  contradict  or  slight  his  wisdom  and  counsel 
therein  ?  Glorious  was  the  appearance  and  manifestation 
of  his  Son  in  the  flesh,  precious  his  subjection  and  holy 
obedience  to  his  Father ;  his  giving  himself  up  to  death 
for  sinners  was  of  great  esteem  in  his  eye !  It  was  a  spot- 
less sacrifice  of  great  value,  and  effectual  for  the  remission 
of  sins :  and  I  do  acknowledge  humbly  unto  the  Lord  the 
remission  of  my  sins  thereby,  and  bless  the  Lord  for  it ; 
even  for  giving  up  his  Son  to  death  for  us  all,  and  giving 
all  that  believe  in  his  name  and  power,  to  partake  of  re- 
mission through  him." — Vol.  iii.  p.  415.  1675. 

In  the  postscript  to  a  work,  entitled  "  Remarks  upon 
some  passages  in  a  book,  entitled  '  Antichrist's  Transfor- 
mations within,'  "  &c.  we  find  the  following,  viz. 

"  First,  as  to  his  [Jeffery  Bullock's]  main  controversy 
with  Friends  about  the  Christ  that  died  at  Jerusalem,  he 
affirming,  that  neither  justification  nor  condemnation  is 
by  him,  and  reproaching  Friends  as  having  gone  back  to 
the  professors'  Christ  and  Saviour,  who  died  without  the 
gates  of  Jerusalem  ;  this  is  in  my  heart  to  say — 

Is  Christ  divided  ?  Is  there  one  Christ  that  died  with- 
out the  gates  of  Jerusalem,  and  another  that  did  not  die? 
Or  is  it  not  the  same  Lord  Jesus  Christ  who  died  without 
the  gates  of  Jerusalem,  according  to  the  flesh,  and  yet  was 
then  alive  in  the  Spirit  ?  Do  we  affirm  that  the  Godhead 
died?  No — we  do  not  so  much  as  affirm  that  his  soul 
died,  as  he  doth,  page  19,  but  according  to  the  flesh  he 
died  ;  that  is,  he  who  was  the  resurrection  and  the  life,  laid 
down  his  life,  and  took  it  up  again  according  to  the  com- 
mandment of  his  Father. 

"  Thus  we  have  been  taught  of  God  to  believe,  and  thus 
to  hold  it  forth.  And  we  have  no  other  Justifier,  Con- 
demner.  Saviour,  or  Intercessor,  than  he  that  laid  down  the 
life  of  the  body,  offering  it  up  a  sacrifice  to  his  Father 
without  the  gates  of  Jerusalem.  '  Who  is  he  that  justifieth?' 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


117 


Is  it  not  God,  in  and  through  him?  'And  who  is  he  that 
condemneth?'  Is  it  not  '  Christ  that  died?'  And  where 
did  he  die?  Was  it  not  without  the  gates  of  Jerusalem? 
'  Yea,  rather  that  is  risen  again,'  &c.  Rom.  viii.  33,  34." 

—Vol.  iv.  p.  370.  1675. 

In  the.  fourth  volume  of  Pennington's  works,  I  find  a 
tract  entitled  "An  Epistle  to  all  serious  professors  of  the 
Christian  religion  ;  whereia  a  brief  touch  of  my  know- 
ledge, sense,  belief  and  experience  concerning  the  God- 
head, the  offering  up  of  thc^Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  his  body 
on  the  tree,  as  a  propitiatory  sacrifice  to  the  Father,  and 
the  imputation  of  his  righteousness  to  those  who  believe  in 
his  name  and  power,  is  nakedly  laid  before  them  ;  wherein 
I  am  not  alone,  but  one  with  those  who  have  so  learned 
and  experienced  the  same,  in  the  leadings  and  light  of  his 
Holy  Spirit."  From  this  epistle  the  following  extracts  are 
taken  : — 

"  And  now  there  are  two  or  three  things  in  my  heart  to 
open  to  you,  how  it- is  with  me  in  reference  to  them  ;  for 
indeed  I  have  not  been  taught  to  deny  any  testimony  the 
Scriptures  hold  forth  concerning  the  Lord  Jesus,  or  any 
of  his  appearances,  but  am  taught  by  the  Lord  more  cer- 
tainly and  fully  to  own  and  acknowledge  them." — P.  450. 

"  The  first  is  concerning  the  Godhead." — "  The  second 
is  concerning  the  offering  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  with- 
out the  gates  of  Jerusalem.  I  do  exceedingly  honour  and 
esteem  that  offering,  believing  it  had  relation  to  the  sins 
of  the  whole  world,  and  was  a  propitiatory  sacrifice  to 
the  Father  therefor.  And  surely  he  that  is  redeemed  out 
of  the  world,  up  to  God,  by  Christ,  cannot  deny  that 
Christ  was  his  ransom,  and  that  he  was  bought  with  a 
price,  and  therefore  is  to  glorify  God,  with  his  body  and 
Spirit,  which  are  God's,  1  Cor.  vi.  20.  And  saith  the 
apostle  Peter,  '  ye  know  that  ye  were  not  redeemed  with 
corruptible  things,  as  silver  and  gold,  from  your  vain  con- 
versation, &c.  but  with  the  precious  blood  of  Christ  as  of 
a  Lamb  without  blemish  and  without  spot,'  1  Pet.  i.  18,  19, 
*  who  so  offered  himself  up  to  God  through  the  eternal 
Spirit,'  Heb.  ix.  14.  This  we  do  own  singly  and  nakedly, 
as  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord  ;  though  I  must  confess  we  do 
not  lay  the  sole  stress  upon  that  which  is  outward  and 
visible,  though  we  truly  and  fully  acknowledge  it  in  its  place, 
but  upon  that  which  is  inward  and  invisible ;  upon  the 


118     ON  THE  DmNITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


inward  life,  the  inward  power,  the  Spirit  within ;  knowing 
and  experiencing  daily,  that  that  is  it,  which  doth  the 
work." — Vol.  iv.  p.  451. 


HUMPHREY  SMITH, 

In  an  essay,  entitled  "  The  Sufferings  and  Trials  of  the 
Saints  at  Evesham,"  relates  a  conversation  between  him- 
self and  a  priest,  in  which  the  following  questions  and 
answers  occur  :— 

"  Then  the  priest  asked  if  I  were  justified  by  the  blood 
of  Christ? 

"Answer.  Yea. 

"  Question.  Are  you  justified  by  that  blood  of  Christ 
that  was  shed  at  Jerusalem  ? 

"  Answer.  By  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ,  the  Son  of  the 
living  God,  who  was  the  express  image  of  his  Father's 
glory,  in  whom  dwelt  the  fulness  of  the  Godhead  really ; 
who  suffered  at  Mount  Calvary,  by  Jerusalem,  for  sinners, 
am  I  justified."  1655. 

In  an  epistle  addressed  "  To  all  that  want  peace  with 
God,"  &:c.  speaking  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ, 
and  his  ministration  on  earth,  &c.  he  says: — 

"  And  when  He  cometh  whom  Moses  commandeth  to 
hearken  unto,  even  Christ  the  true  Prophet,  the  Light  of 
the  world,  the  living  Minister,  the  end  of  the  law,  who 
had  a  body  prepared  to  do  the  will  of  the  Father,  who 
was  in  him,  the  man  Christ  Jesus ;  he  saith,  follow  me : 
And  he  took  up  his  cross  and  passed  through  the  death 
and  the  veil ;  and  so  being  made  perfect  through  suffer- 
ings, attained  that  glory  which  he  had  with  the  Father, 
before  he  had  a  body ;  which  body  was  prepared  to  do  the 
Father's  will:  whose  will  was,  that  all  men  should  be 
saved  ;  therefore  Christ  tasted  death  for  every  man,  and 
rose  again  for  the  justification  of  those  that  believe  in 
him  ;  who  said,  I  am  the  Light ;  and  is  set  down  at  the 
right  hand  of  God :  Who  is  a  Spirit  eternally  in  the 
heavens,  ascended  up  out  of  the  sight  of  them  who  gazed 
after  that  body,  which  is  gone  out  of  their  sight ;  even 
He,  Christ,  the  mystery  hid  from  ages  and  generations, 
now  made  manifest  to  destroy  the  works  of  the  devil, 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.  119 

being  meek  and  lowly  in  heart,  He  saith,  learn  of  me." — 
p.  179.  1660. 


WILLIAM  DEWSBERY, 

In  a  work,  entitled  "  Christ  Exalted,  and  alone  worthy 
to  open  the  Seals  of  the  Book  ;  and  the  Scriptures  owned 
in  their  place,"  &;c.  makes  the  following  reply  to  an  oppo- 
nent : — 

"  The  seventh  false  accusation  ;  thou  sayest,  we  say  that 
he  that  trusts  in  Christ,  that  died  at  Jerusalem,  for  salva- 
tion, shall  be  deceived." 

Reply. — "  This  charge  is  false  as  the  other,  in  the  pre- 
sence of  God,  we  witness  against  thee  ;  no  other  Christ  we 
bear  testimony  of,  to  be  the  salvation  of  lost  man  and 
woman,  but  that  Christ,  according  to  Scripture  testimony, 
who  was  born  of  the  Virgin,  and  made  a  good  cqnfession 
before  Pilate,  and  suffered  at  Jerusalem,  and  rose  again 
the  third  day,  and  ascended  into  heaven,  and  sitteth  at 
the  right  hand  of  God  :  ^nd  this  Christ  we  witness  the 
true  light,  who  lighteth  every  one  that  comes  into  the 
world,  and  saith,  1  stand  at  the  door  and  knock  ;  who 
opens,  1  will  come  into  him,  and  sup  with  him,  and  he  with 
me  ;  Rev.  iii.  20.  and  we  witness  him  faithful :  and  as  many 
as  receive  him,  to  them  he  gives  power  to  become  the 
sons  of  God  ;  and  this  is  the  condemnation  of  all,  because 

they  believe  not  in  Him.    John  xii." — P.  120,  121.  

1656. 


GEORGE  BISHOP. 

In  a  tract,  entitled  "  A  Vindication  of  the  principles  and 
practices  of  the  people  called  Quakers,"  &;c.  written  by 
this  Friend,  I  find  the  following  sentiments  : — 

"  That  which  enlightens ;  which  shows  a  man  his  heart 
and  his  reins,  and  trieth  them,  which  reproves  and  makes 
manifest,  is  Christ  the  Light ;  which  Christ  is  the  same  that 
was  born  of  the  Virgin  Mary  ;  which  was  made  flesh ; 
which  sitteth  at  the  right  hand  of  God  ;  which  was  cruci- 


120     ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 

fied,  dead,  rose  again  from  the  dead,  and  ascended  far  above 
the  heavens,  that  he  might  fill  all  things.  Who  when  he 
was  in  the  days  of  his  flesh  with  his  disciples,  said,  it  is 
expedient  for  you  that  1  go  away  ;  for  if  1  go  not  away,  the 
Comforter  will  not  come  unto  you  ;  but  if  I  depart,  I  will 
send  him  unto  you  ;  and  when  he  is  come,  he  will  reprove 
the  world  of  sin,  of  righteousness,  and  of  judgment ;  of  sin, 
because  that  they  believe  not  in  me  ;  of  righteousness,  be- 
cause 1  go  to  my  Father,  and  ye  see  me  no  more ;  of  judg- 
ment, because  the  prince  of  this  world  is  judged,  John  xvi. 
7— 11."— P.  14.  1665. 

In  another  tract,  entitled  "  The  Throne  of  Truth  exalted 
over  the  Powers  of  Darkness,"  he  recites  the  language  of 
an  opponent,  who  accused  the  Society  of  Friends  of  being 
Socinians,  viz. — 

"  'Tis  a  doctrine  of  the  Socinians,  that  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  did  not,  by  his  death  and  blood  shed,  satisfy  for  our 
sins,  and  so  purchase  redemption  for  us  ;  but  that  he  was 
a  perfect  pattern  of  righteousness,  holiness,  obedience,  and 
sutfering.'" 

To  this  George  Bishop  replies  : — 

"  That  he  is  the  latter,  viz.  a  perfect  pattern,  &:c.  hath 
been  proved  out  of  Christ's  own  mouth,  and  the  apostle 
Peter's  and  the  people  called  Quakers  own  it ;  not  as  the 
doctrine  of  Socinus,  but  as  the  truth  ;  and  truth  is  not  to 
be  turned  from,  because  of  a  brand  set  upon  it,  or  on,  or 
because  of  the  persons  who  have  professed  it,  contradict 
it  who  can.  But  that  he  did  not,  by  his  death  and  blood 
shed,  satisfy  for  our  sins,  and  so  purchase  redemption  for 
us,  is  a  wicked  lie.  They  witness  that  his  blood  shed,  as 
hath  been  said,  whose  blood  cleanseth  from  all  sins;  and 
his  redemption  of  them  :  and  they  affirm  and  witness,  that 
without  blood  there  is  no  remission  of  sin,  and  that  there 
is  no  other  name  given  under  heaven  by  which  we  must 
be  saved,  than  his,  who  by  one  offering,  for  ever  perfected 
those  that  are  sanctified,  who  is  the  substance  of  the  pat- 
tern of  heavenly  things." — P.  69.  1656. 

Replying  to  the  charge,  that  "  the  drift  of  Friends'  doc- 
trine was,  that  Jesus  Christ,  who  suffered  at  Jerusalem,  is 
not  He  who  justifies  us  from  our  sins,  and  shall  procure 
our  acquittal  with  God  at  the  last  judgment,  and  so  finally 
save  us ;  but  that  a  Jesus  in  us,  or  in  our  own  persons, 
must  accomplish  these  things  for  us  ;"  he  says — 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.  121 

"  It  is  false :  'tis  neither  their  doctrine,  nor  the  drift  of 
it.  It  is  thy  lie,  with  which  to  slander  them  is  the  drift  of 
thy  book.  But  this  is  that  which  they  declare  and  witness, 
viz.  That  there  is  no  salvation,  no  justification,  no  right- 
eousness, but  in  Christ  Jesus  ;  who  by  one  offering  for 
ever  perfected  those  that  are  sanctified  ;  who  saith,  with- 
out me  ye  can  do  nothing ;  whose  church  saith,  Thou  also 
hast  wrought  all  our  works  together  in  us." — Page  71,  72. 
 1656. 


EDWARD  BURROUGH. 

In  "  A  Declaration  to  all  the  world  of  our  Faith,  and 
what  we  believe  who  are  called  Quakers,"  pubhshed  in 
1658,  1  find  the  following  :— 

"  Again,  concerning  Christ,  we  believe,  that  he  is  one 
with  the  Father,  and  was  with  him  before  the  world  was  ; 
and  what  the  Father  worketh,  it  is  by  the  Son  ;  for  he  is 
the  arm  of  God's  salvation,  and  the  very  power  and  wis- 
dom of  the  Creator,  and  was,  is,  and  is  to  come,  without 
beginning  or  end. 

"  And,  we  believe,  that  all  the  prophets  gave  testimony 
of  him,  and  that  he  was  made  manifest  in  Judea  and  Je- 
rusalem, and  did  the  work  of  the  Father,  and  was  perse- 
cuted of  the  Jews,  and  was  crucified  by  his  enemies,  and 
that  he  was  buried,  and  rose  again,  according  to  the 
Scriptures. 

"  And,  we  believe,  he  is  now  ascended  on  high,  and 
exalted  at  the  right  hand  of  the  Father  for  evermore  ;  and 
that  he  is  glorified  with  the  same  glory,  that  he  had  before 
the  world  was  ;  and  that  even  the  same  that  came  down 
from  heaven,  is  ascended  up  to  heaven,  and  the  same  that 
descended  is  he  that  ascended. 

"  And  we  believe,  even  that  he  that  was  dead,  is  alive, 
and  lives  for  evermore  ;  and  that  he  cometh,  and  shall 
come  again,  to  judge  the  whole  world  with  righteousness, 
and  all  people  with  equity,  and  shall  give  to  every  man 
according  to  his  deeds,  at  the  day  of  judgment,  when  all 
shall  arise  to  condemnation  or  justification ;  he  that  hath 
done  good  shall  receive  life,  and  he  that  hath  done  evil, 
everlasting  condemnation. 
11 


122        ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OP  JESUS  CHRIST. 

"  And  we  believe,  be  is  to  be  waited  for  in  spirit,  to  be 
known  after  the  spirit,  as  he  was  before  the  world  was ; 
and  that  is  the  knowledge  unto  eternal  life,  which  all  that 
believe  him  do  receive;  he  subdues  death,  and  destroys 
him  that  hath  the  power  of  it,  and  restoreth  from  death 
-  to  life,  and  quickeneth  by  his  Spirit,  all  that  the  Father 
hath  given  him :  And  we  believe  such  he  justifieth  and 
sanctifieth,  and  such  are  taught  of  him  ;  but  he  condemns 
all  that  beHeve  not,  but  continue  in  unbelief,  and  are  not 
taught  of  him.  And  this  we  faithfully  believe.'' — P.  440. 
 1659. 

From  a  work,  entitled  "  Satan's  Design  Defeated,"  &c. 
I  extract  the  following  accusations  and  replies: 

"  They  hold  that  Jesus  Christ  died  only  signally,  or 
exemplarily,  and  that  we  are  justified  by  the  suffering  of 
Christ  in  us;  and  to  be  healed  by  his  stripes,  is  to  be 
stripped  off,  or  from  sin." 

"Answer.  Jesus  Christ  died,  and  rose  again,  and 
ascended  according  to  the  Scriptures,  this  we  do  believe : 
And  Christ  was  and  is  the  substance,  the  end  of  all  signs 
and  examples,  yet  was  he  an  Example  to  the  saints ;  and 
the  apostle  exhorted  to  walk  as  they  had  Christ  for  an 
example;  and  while  he  was  in  the  world,  he  did,  and  spoke, 
and  acted  many  things,  as  parables,  signs,  and  examples, 
the  substance  of  which  is  to  be  received  in  the  saints, 
and  known  by  them  through  the  Spirit;  and  we  believe 
saints  are  justified  by  Christ,  and  through  faith  in  him, 
which  was,  and  is,  and  is  to  come,  who  is  blessed  for  ever; 
and  none  are  justified  by  his  death,  and  suffering,  and 
blood,  without  them,  but  who  witness  Christ  within  them  ; 
for  all  are  reprobates,  and  to  be  condemned,  and  cannot 
be  justified,  that  have  not  Christ  in  them  ;  as  thou  mayest 
read,  except  Christ  be  in  you,  ye  are  reprobates :  And  all 
that  believe  in  Christ,  and  receive  him,  they  are  healed 
through  his  sufferings  and  stripes ;  for  he  sanctifies  them, 
and  gives  them  remission  of  sin,  and  justifies  them,  and  in 
him,  the  saints  are  complete,  and  the  new  man,  the  re- 
generate, is  justified  ;  and  the  old  man  is  in  the  degenera- 
tion, and  knows  not  Christ  in  him,  and  hath  not  received 
him,  but  only  heard  of  him  without  him,  and  believes  the 
relation  :  but  this  faith  doth  not  justify ;  for  all  the  false 
christians  upon  earth  have  this  faith  :  but  that  faith  alone 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.      1 23 


justifies,  which  gives  to  receive  Christ,  and  him  to  live  in 
us,  and  to  dwell  in  us  by  that  faith." 

"  They  utterly  renounce  the  doctrine  of  justification,  by 
the  imputation  of  the  righteousness  of  Christ,  or  hy  the 
obedience  he  performed,  or  sufferings  he  sustained  or 
underwent,  in  his  own  person  without  us. 

"  Answer.  This  is  partly  true,  and  partly  a  lie.  We  do 
indeed  renounce  the  profession  of  justification,  by  the 
imputation  of  Christ  or  his  righteousness  performed  without 
men,  by  men  while  they  are  in  the  degenerated  estate,  and 
unconverted,  and  unreconciled,  and  unborn  again  ;  for  by 
such  profession  of  justification,  many  deceive  their  souls  : 
But  yet,  we  say,  that  righteousness  is  imputed  to  us,  and 
reckoned  unto  us,  who  believe  in  Christ  and  have  received 
him  ;  even  the  obedience  and  sufferings,  that  he  performed 
without  us,  is  ours,  who  have  received  him  within  us,  and 
witness  Christ  in  us,  and  therefore  we  are  not  reprobates  ; 
yet  we  do  acknowledge  he  wrought  perfect  righteousness 
by  obedience  and  sufferings,  without  us,  and  that  righteous- 
ness is  ours,  by  faith;  which  faith  hath  received  Christ 
to  dwell  in  us  ;  and  he  and  his  righteousness,  his  obedience 
and  sufferings,  we  enjoy  in  us,  in  spirit ;  if  any  can  receive 
it,  let  them ;  for  that  he  wrought  righteousness,  this  is 
acknowledged :  but  who  have  a  part  in  this  righteousness, 
that  is  disputable."— Pages  515,  516.  1659. 

In  a  paper  entitled  "  Some  Considerations  presented  to 
the  King  of  England,"  <tc.  he  says — 

"  I  do  testify  unto  the  king,  and  before  the  whole  world, 
that  we  [the  Quakers]  do  profess  and  believe,  concerning 
the  Father,  Son,  and  Spirit,  and  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
and  the  blessed  Gospel,  and  the  holy  Scriptures  ;  I  say  vye 
do  believe,  and  make  profession  in  truth  and  righteous- 
ness, concerning  all  these  things;  and  by  our  doctrines 
and  instructions,  do  persuade  all  people  to  believe,  and 
not  seduce  any  from  these  truths  of  the  gospel :  and  this 
is  known,  through  these  kingdoms,  concerning  us,  though 
we  stand  now  a(xused  falsely,  concerning  these  matters, 
before  the  king.  But  as  for  the  Scriptures  being  the  rule 
of  life,  we  say  the  Spirit  of  God  that  gave  forth  the  Scrip- 
tures, is  the  rule  of  life  and  faith,  unto  the  saints,  and 
leads  not  contrary,  but  according  unto  the  Scriptures ;  in 
the  belief  and  practice  of  whatsoever  the  Scripture  saith." 
—Page  758. 


124 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


FRANCIS  HOWGILL. 

From  an  essay,  entitled  "  The  Heart  of  New  England 
hardened,''  I  extract  the  following,  viz. — 
•  ^  "  Secondly,  They  deny  Christ  to  be  God  and  man  in 
one  person,  and  Christ  to  be  a  distinct  person  from  the 
Father,  and  they  acknowledge  such  a  Christ,  as  unchrists 
Christ ;  and  when  they  say,  Christ  manifest  in  the  flesh, 
they  mean  not  as  the  Scripture,  but  fallaciously." 

"Answer. — We  say,  according  to  the  Scripture  of  truth, 
and  not  according  to  thy  fallacy,  that  in  the  man,  Christ, 
did  the  fulness  of  the  Godhead  dwell,  and  God  was  in 
Christ,  reconciling  the  world  unto  himself;  and  he  saith,  I 
and  my  Father  are  one,  and  the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the 
Spirit,  subsist  in  one  eternal  Power,  Life,  and  Glory; 
which  thou,  with  all  thy  stupid  generation,  are  ignorant  of: 
And  that  Christ  we  acknowledge,  is  such  a  Christ  as  is 
able  to  save  to  the  utmost,  them  that  come  unto  him,  and 
receive  him,  and  believe  in  him  ;  and  is  such  a  Christ  as 
is  able  to  raise  them  that  have  been  dead,  and  such  a 
Christ  as  giveth  eternal  life  to  them  that  believe." 

"  When  we  say  Christ  manifest  in  the  flesh,  we  say,  that 
holy  thing  which  was  brought  forth,  and  born  of  a  virgin,  and 
conceived  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  in  whom  the  fulness  of  the 
Godhead  dwells,  in  whom  the  eternal  power  of  the  Father 
was  manifested,  that  he  was  the  Christ,  which  was  mani- 
fested in  the  flesh  and  justified  in  the  spirit,  preached 
among  the  Gentiles,  seen  of  angels,  and  received  up  into 
glory  ;  and  this  is  according  to  the  Scriptures  of  truth, 

and  thy  judgment  must  be  judged." — Page  303,  304,  

1659. 


GEORGE  FOX  THE  YOUNGER, 

In  his  works,  page  52,  says,  "  But  further,  in  the  fear 
and  wisdom  of  God,  for  the  satisfaction  of  the  simple,  I  do 
declare,  in  plain  word,  that  I  do  believe  in  the  true  Christ, 
the  Lord  of  life,  who  was  glorified  with  the  Father  before 
the  world  began,  and  I  do  believe  that  he  was  in  due  time 
made  manifest  in  that  body  of  flesh,  who  was  called  Jesus, 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


125 


and  that  in  him  the  fulness  of  the  Godhead  dwelt  bodily, 
who  was  supposed  to  be  the  carpenter's  son,  whom  the 
Jews  crucified  without  the  gates  of  Jerusalem ;  and  I 
have  remission  of  sins  through  his  blood,  who  is  the  Lord 
of  life ;  and  he  was  buried,  but  he  is  risen,  and  ascended 
and  sits  on  the  right  hand  of  the  Majesty  on  high/' 

From  a  piece,  entitled  "  A  Message  of  tender  love  unto 
such  professors  as  have  attained  any  true  sincerity,  sim- 
plicity, and  zeal  for  God,  in  their  professions,"  (Sec.  I  extract 
the  following : — 

"  Friends,  the  Eternal  Being,  which  giveth  being  to  all  his 
creatures,  hath  largely  manifested  his  love  unto  the  world, 
in  giving  his  Only  Begotten  to  be  the  light  of  the  world ; 
who  doth  enlighten  every  one  that  cometh  into  the  world, 
that  all  through  him  might  believe  :  And  inasmuch  as  he, 
in  the  fulness  of  time,  sent  forth  his  Only  Begotten,  full 
of  grace  and  truth,  into  the  world,  in  a  body  which  he  had 
prepared  him,  therein  to  do  his  will ;  which  body  the  only 
begotten  of  the  Father  freely  gave  and  offered  up  for  a 
sacrifice  for  sin,  and  so,  according  to  his  grace,  he  tasted 
death  for  every  man,  and  by  his  offering  himself  once  for 
all,  he  hath  put  an  end  to  all  the  sacrifices  and  offerings 
mentioned  in  the  law,  which  could  not  make  the  comers 
thereunto  perfect,  (nor  those  that  offered  them,)  as  apper- 
taining to  the  conscience ;  so  Christ,  the  one  offering,  is 
become  the  propitiation  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world, 
who  wrought  eternal  salvation  for  all  them  that  obey  him  : 
and  here  is  the  one  offering  which  perfects  for  ever  them 
that  are  sanctified. 

"  And  he  having  accomplished  the  will  of  the  Father,  in 
that  body  which  was  prepared  him  of  the  Father,  in  which 
he  came  into  the  world,  he  again  left  the  world,  (he  not 
being  of  the  world,)  and  ascended  unto  the  Father,  from 
whence  he  proceeded,  and  sat  down  on  the  right  hand  of 
the  Majesty  on  hi^h,  and  is  now  glorified  with  the  same 
glory  that  he  had  with  the  Father,  before  the  world  began: 
Yea,  the  same  that  descended  into  the  lower  parts  of  the 
earth,  is  also  the  same  that  ascended  far  above  all  heavens, 
that  he  might  fill  all  things;  and  being  one  with  the  Father, 
and  in  the  Father,  and  the  Father  in  him,  his  presence 
filleth  heaven  and  earth;  and  being  the  Son  in  the  Father, 
he  hath  power  as  the  Father,  to  quicken  whomsoever  he 
will,  that  all  men  might  honour  the  Son  as  the  Father,  by 
11* 


126        02f  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


whom  all  things  were  made  that  were  made,  in  whom  we 
live,  move,  and  have  a  being :  And  he  hath  a  name  given 
him  above  every  name,  to  which  all  things  must  bow,  which 
is  called  the  Word  of  God,  or  Jesus,  because  he  is  a 
Saviour,  and  saveth  his  people  from  their  sins. 

"  This  is  he  that  is  given  to  be  the  Head  of  the  body, 
which  is  the  congregation  of  the  righteous,  the  fulness  of 
him  that  filleth  all  in  all ;  that  he,  in  all  things,  in  whom  all 
fulness  dwells,  might  have  the  pre-eminence ;  being  the 
express  substance  of  the  Father's  glory,  and  the  very  vir- 
tue of  his  being,  one  with  him  in  nature,  and  one  in  name  : 
for  as  the  Father  is  divine,  so  the  Son  is  also  divine ;  and 
as  the  Father  is  called  the  Light,  so  the  Son  is  also  called 
the  Light;  the  Father  is  called  the  Mighty  God,  so  is  the 
Son  also ;  yea,  the  Son's  name  is  called  Wonderful,  the 
Mighty  God,  the  Everlasting  Father,  (mark  that,)  the  Prince 
of  Peace,  of  whose  government  there  shall  be  no  end." — 

Works,  p.  164.  1660. 

To  the  foregoing  essay,  the  following  note  is  attached  : — 
"  So  that  none  shall  be  able  in  the  day  of  the  Lord  to 
plead  or  say  ;  Lord,  because  our  first  parents  fell  from  thee, 
and  became  dead  unto  thee,  and  so  were  driven  out  from 
thy  presence,  and  we  being  brought  forth  in  this  unrecon- 
ciled state,  there  was  no  way  left  unto  us  to  approach  or 
come  near  unto  thee,  to  lay  hold  of  the  grace  that  thou 
offerest  unto  all,  by  reason  of  thine  anger  :  1  say,  none 
shall  be  able  thus  to  plead  ;  for  Christ  the  Father's  love, 
hath  consecrated  a  way,  by  his  freely  giving  up  himself  a 
propitiatory  sacrifice,  which  appeaseth  God,  and  therefore 
it  is  said,  that  God  was  in  Christ  reconciling  the  world  to 
himself,  not  imputing  sin  unto  them.  So  he  that  perisheth, 
it  shall  be  for  his  own  sins,  not  for  his  parents' ;  but  be- 
cause he  believed  not  in  Christ,  who  hath  freely  made  a 
way  for  him  to  come  unto  God,  and  by  the  power  of  his 
life  visiting  him,  puts  him  in  a  capacity  to  receive  the  free 
grace,  which  bringeth  salvation,  which  to  all  men  hath 

appeared."— Works,  pages  152,153,  154,155.  1660. 

He  also  wrote  the  following  Confession  of  Faith,  "  for 
the  satisfaction  of  some  tender,  conscientious  persons,  who 
had  heard  false  reports  of  him  :" — 

"  First,  As  concerning  Jesus  Christ,  that  was  supposed 
to  be  Joseph,  the  carpenter's  son,  who,  as  concerning  the 
flesh,  was  crucified  and  put  to  death  at  Jerusalem,  between 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.  127 

two  thieves,  upon  the  cross  at  Mount  Calvary :  1  do  be- 
lieve he  was  the  Son  of  God;  and  that  that  very  body  that 
the  soldiers  pierced,  was  the  very  body  that  was  prepared 
by  the  Father  for  Christ,  the  true  Saviour,  to  come  in,  to 
do  the  will  of  the  Father  that  sent  him  :  and  I  do  believe 
that,  by  the  grace  of  God,  he  tasted  death  for  every  man, 
that  as  many  as  believe  in  and  obey  him,  whose  soul  was 
made  an  ofifering  for  sin,  might  have  eternal  life,  through 
him,  who  gave  his  precious  life  for  a  ransom  for  many. 

"  Secondly,  I  do  believe  that  no  man  can  be  justified  by 
the  works  of  the  law,  nor  by  any  work  of  his  own;  but  he 
or  she  that  is  justified  in  the  sight  of  God,  it  is  freely  by 
his  grace,  through  faith  in  Christ  Jesus,  who  creates  such 
unto  good  works,  which  God  hath  ordained,  that  they  that 
are  justified  should  walk  in.'' 

"  Thirdly,  Touching  the  resurrection :  it  is  a  mystery 
which  the  carnal  mind  can  never  comprehend,  but  they 
that  come  to  witness  a  part  in  the  first  resurrection,  which 
is  Christ  Jesus,  the  Light  of  Life  ;  they  in  his  light  may 
come  to  perceive  the  mystery  of  the  resurrection ;  but  if 
truth  can  be  received  and  understood,  then  it  will  appear 
and  be  manifested  to  such,  that  I  do  not  deny  the  resur- 
rection :  for  1  do  verily  believe,  that  the  hour  is  coming,  in 
which  all  that  are  in  the  graves  shall  hear  the  voice  of  the 
Son  of  God,  and  shall  come  forth  ;  they  that  have  done 
good  unto  the  resurrection  of  life,  and  they  that  have  done 
evil  unto  the  resurrection  of  condemnation  :  but  to  fools 
that  say  that  this  body  of  natural  flesh  and  bones  shall  be 
raised,  I  say,  that  body  which  is  sown,  is  not  that  body 
that  shall  be ;  but  God  giveth  a  body  as  it  pleaseth  him, 
yet  to  every  seed  its  own  body  ;  now,  there  is  the  seed  of 
the  serpent,  and  the  seed  of  Christ ;  and  they  that  can  dis- 
cern the  body  of  each  seed,  are  not  the  fools  which  are 
questioning  how  the  dead  shall  be  raised,  and  with  what 
bodies  they  shall  come  ?  for  they  know  all  mankind  will  be 
found  to  be  one  of  these  seeds,  and  that  every  seed  shall 
have  its  own  body. 

"  Fourthly,  Truly,  if  I  did  not  believe  that  there  was  a 
glory  to  come  more  than  what  is  here,  surely  although  the 
good  presence,  peace  and  consolation  of  God  is  in  me,  and 
his  glory  rests  richly  upon  me,  yet  1  should  think  myself  to 
be  in  a  more  miserable  condition  than  very  many  :  but  for 
the  glory  that  is  set  before  me,  which  Christ  in  me  is  the 


128      ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 

hope  of,  (which  anchors  and  stays  my  soul,)  1  am  content 
to  endure  the  cross,  and  patiently  to  bear  the  affliction  and 
sufferings  of  this  present  life,  not  counting  them  worthy, 
though  ever  so  great,  to  be  compared  to  that  eternal  weight 
of  glory,  which  I  do  believe  shall  be  revealed  and  given 
unto  me  in  the  world  to  come. 

"  And  as  I  do  steadfastly  believe,  that  there  is  a  glorious 
state  to  be  entered  into  after  this  lif^,  by  all  them  that  shall 
be  found  in  the  immortal  seed,  wherein  they  shall  be  swal- 
lowed up  of  life,  glory,  and  immortality  ;  so  1  certainly  be- 
lieve, that  there  is  a  woful,  dreadful,  horrible  state  to  be 
entered  into  after  this  life,  by  all  them  that  shall  be  found 
in  the  seed  of  the  serpent,  wherein  they  shall  be  swallowed 
up  of  perpetual  torment  and  misery,  where  the  worm  dieth 
not,  but  shall  gnaw  everlastingly,  and  the  fire  goeth  not 
out. ''-"Works,  page  208,  &c. — —1661. 


JOHN  WHITEHEAD. 

In  "A  small  treatise,  wherein  is  briefly  declared  some  of 
those  things  which  I  have  heard,  and  seen,  and  learned  of 
the  Father,  &c. after  speaking  of  Jesus  Christ,  the  true 
Light,  as  the  only  begotten  of  the  Father,  the  first  born 
of  every  creature,  which  is  the  beginning  and  end  of  all 
things,  the  rock  of  ages  which  followed  Israel  in  the  wil- 
derness, and  hath  appeared  unto  all  men,  &;c.  he  goes  on 
to  say  : — 

I  also  saw  how  in  his  humiliation  he  was  in  fashion  as 
a  man,  compassed  by  the  virgin's  womb,  brought  forth,  and 
touched  with  a  feeling  of  our  infirmities,  yet  without  spot 
of  sin,  perfect  in  holiness,  having  the  Spirit  without  mea- 
sure, and  the  fulness  of  the  Godhead  in  him  :  Yet  was  he  a 
man  of  sorrows,  rejected  of  men,  judged  a  blasphemer,  and 
not  worthy  to  live  by  the  chief  priests  and  pharisees  that 
had  the  scriptures;  and  Pilate  that  had  natural  learning, 
Hebrew,  Greek,  and  Latin,  delivered  him  to  be  crucified  ; 
and  after  he  had  witnessed  a  good  confession  before  him; 
he  tasted  death  for  every  man  ;  of  which  it  w^as  impossible 
for  him  to  be  held  ;  therefore  he  rose  by  the  power  of  God, 
and  in  divers  manners  appeared  to  his  disciples :  After 
which,  he  that  descended  did  ascend  far  above  all  heavens 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHKIST. 


129 


into  the  glory  of  the  Father,  with  which  he  is  glorified  as  he 
was  before  the  world  began,  having  that  name  which  is  be- 
fore every  name,  that  he  had  in  the  beginning,  which  is 
the  Word  of  God,  the  Eternal  Life,  that  was  with  the  Fa- 
ther, which  doth  enlighten  men,  that  through  him,  who  is 
the  Way,  Truth,  and  Life,  man  may  be  reconciled  and  have 
access  unto  God,  who  only  hath  Immortality,  dwelling  in 
the  Light  to  which  no  mortal  eye  can  approach,  and  with- 
out which  no  man  hath  seen  or  shall  see  God.  Therefore, 

0  man !  whose  soul  is  immortal,  wait  to  have  its  eye  opened 
in  the  Light,  that  thou  mayest  see  God,  and  walk  with  him 
in  the  garden,  as  in  the  beginning,  before  the  fall  and  se- 
paration was,  or  ever  the  evil  eye  \vas  open,  or  the  immor- 
tal eye  overshadowed  by  death." — Works,  pages  93,  94. 
 1661. 

From  a  treatise,  entitled  "  A  Manifestation  of  Truth," 

1  extract  the  following,  viz  : — 

"  Concerning  salvation  by  Christ,  we  say  and  believe, 
that  without  the  sufferings  and  death  of  Christ  at  Jerusa- 
lem, no  man  can  be  saved,  justified,  or  sanctified,  and 
therefore  do  they  maliciously,  or,  at  least,  ignorantly,  slan- 
der us,  who  say  we  expect  not  to  be  saved  by  Christ's  suf- 
ferings at  Jerusalem,  but  by  Christ's  sufferings  in  us  ;  for 
such  words  did  never  proceed  from  us ;  though  we  say  that 
it  is  not  an  historical  knowledge  and  belief  of  what  Christ 
said  and  suffered  at  Jerusalem,  sixteen  hundred  years  ago, 
that  can  or  doth  save  any  man,  without  feeling  of  his  Spirit, 
power,  and  life  made  manifest  within,  to  make  them  con- 
formable to  him  in  his  death,  and  raise  them  together  with 
him  to  live  in  the  virtue  of  his  life  ;  by  which  life,  we,  as 
well  as  the  ancient  christians,  are  saved,  and  we  are  sanc- 
tified and  justified  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  by 
the  Spirit  of  our  God,  which  mightily  worketh  in  us,  and 
all  his  works  are  perfect :  And  therefore,  I  do  distinguish 
betwixt  the  righteousness  which  is  of  faith,  which  the 
Spirit  worketh,  and  the  righteousness  which  is  of  the  law 
performed  by  man's  own  strength  ;  for  though  the  one  be 
as  filthy  rags,  yet  so  is  not  the  other  ;  therefore  is  he  the 
enemy  of  righteousness  that  mingles  them  both  together, 
and  treads  them  under  foot  as  dung  and  dross  :  Therefore 
let  all  that  love  their  souls,  love  Christ  the  righteousness 
of  God,  and  follow  after  him,  that  they  may  be  made 
righteous,  and  have  that  boldness  in  the  day  of  judgment 


130     ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 

which  the  ancient  christians  had,  because,  said  they,  a3 
He  is,  so  are  we  in  this  world." — Works,  pages  134,  135. 
 1662. 


RICHARD  HODDEN. 

The  following  quotation  is  from  a  work,  entitled  "  The 
one  good  way  of  God,"  &;c.  written  by  Richard  Hodden, 
viz : — 

"  In  the  next  place,  truly  to  know  this  one  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  come  in  the  flesh,  as  the  new  and  living  Way  to  the 
Father,  the  Immanuel,  God  with  us  ;  making  the  atonement 
by  the  blood  of  his  cross,  to  have  all  things  subject  unto 
him,  his  servants  in  him  and  he  in  them  ;  which  is  the  great 
mystery  of  godliness,  hid  from  ages  and  generations  until 
the  fulness  of  time,  and  then  manifested  in  the  flesh,  justi- 
fied in  the  Spirit,  believed  on  in  the  world,  and  received  up 
into  glory  :  Which  none  of  the  wise  men  of  the  world  ever 
knew  or  can  know  by  all  their  learned  skill  of  earthly  wis- 
dom, nor  any  man  that  lives  after  the  flesh,  or  satisfieth 
himself  with  hearing,  reading,  telling  or  talking  of  Him,  or 
concerning  what  he  or  his  apostles  did,  said,  or  suffered  ; 
as  those  that  vainly  take  his  name  into  their  mouths,  on 
most  occasions  of  their  invented  ways,  but  know  him  not, 
neither  by  his  divine  nature  nor  name,  nor  how  God  and 
man  became  one  Christ  Jesus  ;  how  that  which  may  be 
known  of  God  is  manifest  in  man  ;  how  he  is  the  Wonder- 
ful, Counsellor,  the  Mighty  God,  the  Prince  of  peace,  the 
Author  and  Finisher  of  our  faith.  How  he  saves  his  peo- 
ple from  their  sins,  is  the  Reconciler  without  imputation 
of  sin  :  how  he  is  formed  in  his  servants,  and  cleanseth 
them  by  his  blood  from  all  sin  and  unrighteousness  ;  how 
they  take  up  the  cross  and  follow  him,  or  what  the  cross 
is  :  how  the  body  becomes  dead  because  of  sin,  and  the 
spirit  alive  for  righteousness'  sake  :  how  they  are  members 
of  his  body,  of  his  flesh,  and  of  his  bones  :  how  he  is 
their  Leader,  and  Captain  of  Salvation,  made  perfect 
through  sufferings  :  how  they  are  baptised  into  his  death, 
and  saved  by  his  life  :  how  the  union  is  perfected  in  all 
the  parts  and  members  of  his  body,  the  church  :  What  the 
church  is,  or  how  his  body,  or  what  it  is  to  eat  his  flesh 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.  131 

or  drink  his  blood,  without  which,  as  himself  said,  we  have 
no  life  in  us.  How  every  knee  shall  bow  to  him,  of  things 
in  heaven,  in  earth,  and  under  the  earth,  and  confess  that 
Jesus  Christ  is  Lord,  to  the  glory  of  God  the  Father :  how 
he  is  that  blessed  and  only  Potentate,  King  of  kings  and 
Lord  of  lords,  the  Head  of  all  thrones  and  dominions,  and 
every  name  that  is  named." — P.  10,  11.  ^661. 


CATHARINE  EVANS  AND  SARAH  CHEEVERS. 

In  a  brief  narrative  of  the  sufferings  of  these  Friends  in 
the  Inquisition  at  Malta,  in  consequence  of  their  religious 
principles,  there  is  an  account  of  an  examination  which 
they  underwent  relative  to  their  faith.  In  the  course  of 
this,  they  thus  declare  their  belief  in  God  and  in  his  beloved 
Son,  viz. — 

"  We  do  believe  in  God,  and  in  Jesus  Christ,  which  was 
born  of  the  virgin  Mary  and  sutfered  at  Jerusalem  under 
Pilate,  and  arose  again  from  the  dead  the  third  day,  and 
ascended  to  his  Father,  and  shall  come  to  judgment,  to 
judge  both  quick  and  dead."— P.  6.  1662. 


SAMUEL  FISHER. 

"  And  because  we  make  mention  of  Christ  in  us,  and 
the  righteousness  of  the  law  as  necessary  in  order  to  sal- 
vation, to  be  performed  and  fulfilled  in  our  own  persons, 
as  Paul  does,  Rom.  viii.  4.  though  we  mean  no  other 
righteousness  than  the  same  that  is  in  Christ,  and  is 
wrought  in  us  by  no  other  power  than  that  of  Christ,  and 
that  same  Christ  too,  of  whom  the  Scripture  speaks,  that 
'  to  him  give  all  the  prophets  witness,'  Acts  x.  that  in  his 
name  and  through  faith  in  his  name  alone,  whoever 
believeth,  shall  receive  remission  of  sins  ;  than  which 
Christ  and  his  name,  there  is  no  other  under  heaven,  given 
among  men,  whereby  they  must  be  saved  ;  they  belie  us 
both  to  God  and  men,  as  denyers  of  Christ,  and  of  his 
righteousness,  and  of  justification  by  Christ  alone." — Works, 
page  34. 


132         ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


JOHN  CROOK. 

The  opposers  of  Friends  having  for  many  years  en- 
deavoured to  nnake  the  impression  on  the  public,  that 
the  Society  were  not  believers  in  the  doctrines  of  the 
Christian  religion  ;  and  finding  that  the  declarations  of 
faith  repeatedly  published  by  Friends  entirely  disproved 
their  false  accusation,  resorted  to  another  slander  in  order 
to  injure  them.  They  accused  them  of  having  changed 
their  faith ;  asserting,  that  although  the  Society,  at  the 
close  of  the  seventeenth  century,  was  really  sound  and 
scriptural  in  its  belief,  yet  the  founders  of  the  sect,  the 
first  members,  held  very  different  doctrines.  This  charge 
was  strenuously  and  successfully  controverted.  Amongst 
those  who  wrote  in  refutation  of  it,  was  John  Crook.  The 
following  is  extracted  from  a  declaration  of  faith  which 
he  gave  forth  in  1663  ;  and  reprinted  in  the  year  1698, 
"in  order,"  says  he,  "that  they  may  see  what  myself  with 
our  ancient  Friends  held  in  the  year  1663."  Alluding  to 
the  unspeakable  gift  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  freely  dispensed 
to  all  mankind  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord,  he  says — 

"  Through  this  gift  we  believe,  that  Christ  Jesus,  the 
Son  of  God,  was  manifested  in  the  flesh,  in  the  fulness  of 
time.  And  this  we  know  by  the  same  Spirit,  by  which 
our  fathers  believed  he  w^as  come,  and  Abraham  saw  his 
day ;  by  the  same  we  do  believe  he  is  come,  and  do  see 
his  day ;  as  also  by  the  prophets'  and  apostles'  writings  : 
which  twofold  cord  is  not  easily  broken. 

"  We  believe  also,  according  to  the  Scriptures  of  truth, 
that  this  same  Jesus  hath  God  highly  exalted,  and  given 
him  a  name  above  every  name,  that  whosoever  believes 
in  him,  shall  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting  life  ;  and  that 
there  is  not  another  name,  whereby  man  can  be  saved, 
than  this  name  of  Jesus  Christ ;  nor  is  remission  of  sins 
to  be  preached  by  any  other  name.  But,  as  we  do  not 
believe,  that  the  outward  letters  and  syllables  are  that 
name,  that  are  to  be  bowed  unto  by  the  outward  knee,  no 
more  than  the  letters  and  syllables  in  the  words,  God  or 
Spirit,  seeing  the  Scripture  saith,  '  Unto  God,  who  is  a 
Spirit,  every  knee  shall  bow,'  Isa.  xlv.  23.  But  that  name 
which  saves,  is  the  power  and  arm  of  God,  that  brings 
salvation  from  sin,  and  makes  every  soul  that  names  it,  to 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.  133 

depart  from  iniquity.  This  is  that  name  which  was 
preached,  and  which  is  preached,  through  faith  in  which 
name,  remission  of  sins  is  obtained ;  therefore  was  the 
outward  word  Jesus  given  him,  as  his  outward  name ; 
thou  shalt  call  his  name  Jesus,  for  he  shall  save  his  people 
from  their  sins :  mark,  for  he  shall  save,  &:c.  So  that 
which  saves,  is  the  name,  which  is  to  be  beheved  in, 
which  is  that  arm  of  God  that  brings  salvation,  when  no 
eye  pities,  neither  is  there  any  to  help;  the  power  of 
God  that  then  saves,  is  that  grace  that  comes  from  the 
fulness  of  Christ  the  Saviour :  and  without  this  virtue, 
Christ  and  Jesus  are  but  empty  names,  1  Cor.  xii.  3.  '  No 
man  can  say,  that  Jesus  is  the  Lord,  but  by  the  Holy 
Ghost.' 

"  We  believe  also,  that  this  Jesus  died  for,  or  because 
of  sin,  and  rose  again  for  the  justification  of  those  that 
believe  in  him,  as  well  as  to  manifest  to  all  the  world,  that 
he  was  the  Son  of  God,  and  that  he  thereby  spoiled  princi- 
paUties  and  powers,  and  triumphed  over  them  openly,  and 
led  captivity  captive  in  his  own  person  ;  yet  we  believe 
and  know,  by  his  grace,  in  our  hearts,  that  as  his  name 
Jesus,  without  virtue  and  power,  is  but  an  empty  word  ; 
so  his  dying,  without  man's  conformity  to  his  death,  or 
being  planted  in  the  likeness  thereof,  or  being  crucified 
with  Christ,  as  saith  the  Scripture,  Rom.  vi.  2,  3,  4,  5,  6. 
Gal.  ii.  20.  will  not  profit  man,  as  to  the  salvation  of  his 
soul,  no  more  than  the  naming  of  his  outward  name,  Jesus, 
doth  at  this  day  make  people  to  depart  from  iniquity.  For 
we  believe,  and  are  sure,  that  man  must  die  inwardly,  as 
well  as  Christ  died  outwardly,  and  must  be  put  to  death  in 
his  flesh,  as  Christ  was,  in  his  :  for  '  he  that  is  in  the  flesh 
cannot  please  God,'  Rom.  viii.  8.  '  neither  cease  from  sin  ;' 
*  but  he  that  is  dead,  is  freed  from  sin,'  Rom.  vi.  7.  And 
yet  man's  dying  unto  sin,  and  the  root  and  principle  of  it 
in  himself,  is  so  far  from  making  void  Christ's  death  in 
his  own  person,  that  it  establisheth  it  to  all  those  ends  and 
purposes,  for  which  it  was  intended  of  the  Father.  As 
the  cures  which  the  physician  doth,  manifest  and  establish 
his  skill  and  abihty ;  so  doth  man's  dying  unto  sin  and  self, 
and  living  unto  God,  manifest  and  establish  the  virtue  and 
power  of  Christ's  death  :  for  as  man  manifests  his  being 
risen  with  Christ,  by  his  seeking  the  things  that  are  above, 
Col.  iii,  1,2.  so  doth  he  manifest  his  knowledge  of  the 
12 


134        ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OP  JESUS  CHRIST. 

death  of  Christ,  by  his  being  crucified  with  Christ,  and 
bearing  about  in  his  body,  the  dying  of  the  Lord  Jesus  ; 
for  as  it  is  not  an  outward  behef,  gathered  from  the  letter, 
that  will  change  the  heart  and  life,  though  the  judgnnent 
and  opinion  it  may,  so  is  it  not  a  belief  from  the  history, 
or  letter  only,  that  can  give  man  a  saving  knowledge  of 
the  death  of  Christ ;  but  he  must  haA^e  the  same  glory  and 
power  of  the  Father  in  measure,  working  in  him  there,  to 
beget  faith  in  his  heart,  that  he  may  believe  unto  salvation 
from  his  own  filthiness  and  righteousness,  as  well  as  confess 
with  his  mouth,  Rom.  x.  and  must  have  that  spirit  in  him, 
quickening  his  mortal  body,  as  well  as  to  believe  that  it  was 
in  Christ, '  and  raised  up  him  from  the  dead,'  Rom.  viii.  11. 
And  this  man,  whoever  he  be,  bond  or  free,  that  thus 
believes  the  death  of  Christ,  and  its  satisfaction  to  God,  as 
well  as  its  usefulness  to  man,  cannot  make  it  void,  nor 
divide  it  and  its  virtue  upon  the  soul  that  thus  knows  it : 
but  will  say,  here  is  a  dying  man  witnessing  the  death  of 
Christ,  and  nevertheless  the  same  man  living  with  Christ, 
and  concluding,  if  Christ  had  not  died,  man  must  have 
perished  in  his  sin ;  this  being  the  way  found  out  by  God 
to  recover  him  :  wliereby  he  knows  Christ,  and  him  cruci- 
fied, and  what  the  preaching  of  the  cross  of  Christ  is,  w  hich 
is  foolishness  to  them  that  perish,  but  to  them  that  are 
saved,  the  wisdom  of  God,  and  the  power  of  God,  1  Cor. 
i.  18. 

"  By  this  gift  of  God  in  our  hearts,  we  further  believe, 
that  Christ  Jesus  rose  again  from  the  dead,  according  unto 
the  scriptures,  and  sits  at  God's  right  hand  in  a  glorious 
body ;  and  we  believe  that  our  low  estates  and  humble 
bodies,  shall  be  made  like  unto  his  glorious  body,  through 
the  working  of  his  mighty  power,  whereby  he  is  able  to 
subdue  all  things  unto  himself;  and  that  this  mortal  shall 

?ut  on  immortality.  For  though  we  believe  that  Christ 
esus  hath  lighted  every  man  with  his  light,  whereby  man 
may  come  to  know  himself  lost  and  undone,  as  before  is 
said ;  yet  therefore  is  not  every  man  saved,  though  the 
grace  that  appears  to  all  men  is  sufficient  in  itself;  but 
some  have  the  grace  of  God  bestowed  on  them  in  vain, 
not  liking  to  retain  God  in  their  knowledge,  though  some- 
thing within  them  shows  them  what  is  good ;  'but  they 
reject  the  counsel  of  God  within,  or  against  themselves,  to 
their  own  destruction,'  Luke  vii.  30.  (see  the  margin.)  And 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHEIST.  135 

yet  it  doth  not  follow,  that  the  grace  is  insufficient  itself, 
no  more  than  it  follows  that  Christ's  death  is  insufficient, 
because  he  tasted  death  for  every  man,  and  yet  every  man 
is  not  saved.  Neither  doth  regeneration,  or  the  believing 
in  the  light  of  Christ  within,  make  void  the  death  and  suf- 
ferings of  Christ  without,  at  Jerusalem,  no  more  than  be- 
lieving the  scripture-testimony  without,  concerning  Christ's 
death,  makes  void  the  work  of  regeneration  and  mortifica- 
tion within  ;  but  as  the  apostle  saith  in  another  case,  so  say 
I  in  this,  for  as  the  man  is  not  without  the  woman,  neither 
is  the  woman  without  the  man  in  the  Lord ;  even  so  is  not 
the  death  and  sufferings  of  Christ  without  at  Jerusalem,  to 
be  made  void  and  of  none  effect  by  any  thing  within; 
neither  doth  the  light  within  make  that  of  none  effect,  with- 
out, but  both  in  the  Lord,  answer  his  will:  For  though 
there  is,  and  may  be,  a  knowledge  and  belief  of  what 
Christ  did  and  suffered  without  the  gates,  in  his  own  body 
upon  the  tree,  and  yet  sin  alive  in  the  heart,  and  the  work 
of  regeneration  not  known  ;  yet  it  cannot  be  so,  where  the 
light  within  is  believed  on  and  obeyed,  so  as  to  have  its 
perfect  work  in  the  heart,  to  regenerate  and  make  all 
things  new,  and  to  be  of  God ;  this  man  can  never  make 
void  what  Christ  hath  done  and  suffered  without :  and  yet 
this  new  birlh,  or  Christ  formed  within,  and  dwelling  in 
the  heart  by  faith,  doth  not  limit  or  confine  Christ  to  be 
only  within,  and  not  without  also,  but  both  within  and 
without,  according  to  the  good  pleasure  of  the  Father,  to 
reveal  and  make  him  known  ;  for,  '  He  fills  all  things,  and 
the  heaven  of  heavens  cannot  contain  him,'  and  yet  he  is 
at  God's  right  hand,  far  above  all  heavens,  in  a  glorious 
body. 

"  And  we  also  believe  the  resurrection  of  the  just  and 
unjust,  the  one  to  salvation,  and  the  other  to  condemna- 
tion, according  to  the  judgment  of  the  great  day;  and  then 
shall  every  seed  have  its  own  body,  according  to  1  Cor. 
XV.  36,  37,  38.  which  we  verily  believe:  for  if  the  dead 
arise  not,  we  are,  of  all  men,  most  miserable.  But  because 
we  dare  not  be  so  foolishly  inquisitive,  as  to  say,  With  what 
bodies  shall  they  arise  ?  Therefore  do  some  say.  We  deny 
both  the  resurrection  of  the  body  of  Christ,  and  of  all  that 
shall  or  will  be  dead  :  but  this  also  is  false  ;  for  '  every  man 
shall  be  raised  in  his  own  order;  but  Christ  the  first  fruits,' 
1  Cor.  XV.  23.    And  we  believe  they  shall  be  raised  with 


136     ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


the  same  bodies,  so  far  as  a  natural  ami  spiritual,  corrupti- 
ble and  incorruptible,  terrestrinl  and  celestial,  can  be  the 
same."— P.  364,  ike.  1663. 


WILLIAM  SMITH, 

In  his  "  New  Catechism,"  after  illustrating  the  belief  of 
the  Society  of  Friends  in  the  sufficiency  of  the  grace  of 
God,  proposes  the  following  query  and  answer : — 

*'  Q.  But  if  all  these  things  Jbe  done  for  you  by  Christ, 
within  you,  then  what  do  you  believe  concerning  that  great 
work,  which  by  the  death  of  Christ,  was  accomplished  on 
the  cross  in  time  past,  according  to  the  Scriptures :  or 
doth  not  this  your  faith  concerning  such  things  done  for 
you,  by  Christ  in  you,  make  void  his  death  upon  the  Cross, 
and  the  benefit  which  is  to  be  received  thereby  ? 

Ans.  "  We  believe,  that  all  things  which  are  spoken  by 
the  holy  prophets  and  apostles  concerning  Christ,  are  true 
according  to  the  Scriptures  :  We  believe  that  all  the  dis- 
pensations of  God,  which  are  manifested  by  the  Scriptures, 
are  altogether  true,  and  that  they  were  all  fulfilled  accord- 
ing to  the  determinate  will  and  council  of  God :  So  that 
our  faith  concerning  Christ  in  us,  and  the  work  which  he 
there  worketh  for  us,  doth  not  [at]  all  make  void  any  of 
the  dispensations  of  God,  which  in  times  past  were  revealed 
unto  his  holy  prophets  and  apostles,  and  by  them  testified 
in  the  Scriptures :  so  that  the  work  which  the  Father  then 
gave  unto  the  Son  to  do,  we  believe  that  he  fulfilled  ac- 
cording to  the  Father's  will ;  and  that  all  things  pertaining 
to  life  and  salvation,  were  fully  and  perfectly  in  him,  and 
that  he  humbled  himself  to  the  death  of  the  cross,  and 
from  death  did  rise,  again :  and  we  believe  that  he  is  the 
resurrection  and  the  life,  and  gives  eternal  life  to  all  that 
believe  in  him  :  but  that  any  do  believe  in  him  as  he  is 
Christ,  who  are  despisers  of  his  light  and  life  in  them,  that 
is  not  our  faith ;  for  as  we  know  him  in  us,  and  so  have 
our  faith  in  him ;  we  likewise  know  the  dispensation  of 
God  in  times  past,  and  the  end  of  their  manifestation,  and 
the  time  of  their  finishing,  and  the  Scriptures  are  fulfilled 
in  us,  who  live  in  the  faith  of  Christ,  and  walk  in  his  Spirit : 
and  we  also  know,  and  believe,  that  he  is  the  same  Christ 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.  137 

in  us,  which  in  dispensations  past  did  humble  himself  to 
the  cross,  and  doth  perfect  his  work  in  us,  according  to  the 
determinate  counsel  and  will  of  the  Father :  so  that  our 
faith  concerning  Christ  in  us,  doth  not  at  all  make  void 
what  he  hath  done  or  wrought  in  times  past,  but  doth  fully 
and  perfectly  establish  it  as  a  true  dispensation ;  and  by 
our  faith  in  Christ,  we  know  in  a  good  understanding,  the 
things  that  are  past,  present,  and  to  come  ;  and  that  Christ 
is  yesterday,  to  day,  and  the  same  for  ever ;  and  of  his  life, 
nature  and  being,  there  is  neither  variableness  nor  chang- 
ing, but  an  enduring  substance  of  immortality;  who  is  glo- 
rified with  the  Father,  in  the  same  glory  that  he  had  with 
him  before  the  world  began  ;  who,  through  every  dispensa- 
tion, hath  manifested  his  glory ;  and  in  this  dispensation  of 
his  light  and  life  he  is  come  unto  us  ;  and  we  know  him 
to  be  the  First  and  the  Last,  the  Beginning  and  the  End- 
ing, for  Him  hath  God  the  Father  sealed  ;  and  in  Him,  our 
faith  stands  steadfast."— Page  136.  1664. 


LUKE  HOWARD, 

In  a  postscript  to  a  treatise,  entitled  "  A  Looking  Glass 
for  Baptists,"  says  : — 

"  Christ  Jesus  was  glorified  with  the  Father  before  the 
world  was,  and  in  time  manifested  to  the  world,  in  that 
body,  which  the  Father  had  prepared  Him  to  do  his  will 
in ;  whose  name  is  called  the  Word  of  God,  by  which  the 
world  was  made,  who  took  upon  him  the  seed  of  Abraham, 
and  [was]  declared  to  be  the  Son  of  David,  according  to  the 
flesh,  but  the  Son  of  God,  according  to  the  Spirit,  by  the 
resurrection  from  the  dead  :  Who  had  all  power  in  heaven 
and  earth  given  to  him,  by  which  he  gave  commission  to 
his  apostles  or  messengers,  to  baptize  into  the  name  of  the 
Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  which  is  into  the  nature  and 
life  of  each,  which  is  one  divine  nature,  and  these  three 
being  one  in  nature  and  being,  and  every  one  which  is 
herein  baptized,  knows  the  Father  and  the  Son  by  the  Spirit, 
which  to  know,  is  eternal  life,  &;c. — P.  13.  1672. 

In  a  pamphlet,  called  "  The  seat  of  the  scorner  thrown 
down,  &c."  he  says : — 


12* 


138 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


"  And  now  what  is  written  in  the  Holy  Scriptures  con- 
cerning Christ  Jesus,  his  birth,  suffering,  deatli,  resurrec- 
tion and  ascension,  we  do  believe  as  much  as  any  men 
living,  and  so  I  do  beheve  Paul  did,  who  said,  '  henceforth 
know  we  him  no  more.'  " — P.  17. 

Again — "  That  Christ  Jesus,  who  offered  up  his  body 
through  the  eternal  Spirit,  and  poured  out  his  soul  unto 
death,  and  tasted  death  for  every  man,  those  his  suffer- 
ings have  a  living  extent  unto  every  one  that  doth  believe, 
and  feel  the  power  by  which  he  laid  down  that  body  and 
took  it  up  again ;  and  these  are  they,  unto  whom  he 
becomes  a  Saviour  from  sin,  and  gives  them  an  inheritance 
in  glory."— Page  17.  1673. 


CHARLES  MARSHALL, 

In  a  piece,  entitled  "  The  way  of  Life  revealed,  and  the 
way  of  Death  discovered,  &c."  speaks  thus  of  our  Lord 
and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  viz. — 

"Amongst  many  other  appellations,  he  hath  been 
declared  a  Priest  for  ever,  after  the  order  of  Melchisedeck; 
the  Rock  that  followed  Israel,  who  was  in  the  church  in 
the  wilderness ;  a  King,  a  Lawgiver,  Wonderful,  Counsel- 
lor, Prince  of  Peace,  a  Branch,  a  Light  to  lighten  the 
gentiles,  the  Arm  of  God's  salvation  ;  a  Covenant,  Mes- 
siah, Leader,  a  Commander,  a  Captain,  the  Horn  of  God's 
anointed,  a  Stone  of  Stumbling,  a  Foundation  laid  in 
Zion,  the  Corner  Stone,  the  Word  of  God,  the  Word  that 
was  in  the  beginning ;  the  true  Light  that  lighteth  every 
man  that  cometh  into  the  world,  the  Truth,  the  Way,  and 
the  Life,  King  of  kings.  Lord  of  lords,  Christ,  Emmanuel, 
Jesus,  the  Beginning  of  the  creation  of  God,  the  First- 
born of  every  creature,  the  First-begotten  from  the  dead, 
the  faithful  Witness,  Alpha  and  Omega,  bright  and  morn- 
ing Star,  the  Image  of  the  invisible  God,  the  Offspring  of 
David.  Under  these,  I  say,  and  other  names  and  denomi- 
nations, hath  he  been  spoken  and  declared  of  and  by,  who 
still  hath  a  name  that  no  man  knoweth  but  himself,  who 
is  that  one  eternal  Fountain  of  blessedness,  and  the  one 
precious  Saviour,  and  there  is  no  other  besides  him. 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OP  JESUS  CHRIST. 


139 


although  diversely  denominated,  according  as  his  Spirit 
gave  utterance,  to  demonstrate  him  to  those,  unto  whom 
his  servants  spake,  prophesied,  and  w^rote." — P.  63. 

"  The  travail  in  spirit  of  the  messengers  and  servants  of 
the  Most  High  in  ages  past,  was  the  same  as  now  it  is, 
viz.  To  turn  people  from  darkness  unto  light,  and  from 
the  power  of  Satan  to  the  power  of  the  Living  God ; 
thereby  in  no  wise  invalidating  Christ  Jesus,  his  manifesta- 
tion in  that  bodily  appearance,  neither  his  sufferings,  death, 
resurrection,  or  ascension ;  but  brings  all  people,  guided 
thereby,  unto  that  which  will  open  the  eyes  of  their  under- 
standings, whereby  they  all  come  unto  such  a  condition, 
and  spiritual  understanding,  as  to  see  and  know  their  bene- 
fit by  that  appearance  of  the  Saviour  of  the  world  ;  for  this 
we  testify,  AH  are  perfected  by  that  one  offering  that  are 
sanctified." 

"  Now  for  the  sake  of  all  who  do  or  may  desire  after 
the  true  and  saving  knowledge  of  Christ  Jesus,  it  is  on  my 
spirit  yet  further  to  open  and  manifest  the  nature  and  pro- 
perty of  this  principle  and  light ;  whose  fountain  is  the 
eternal  Being,  and  everlasting  Ocean  of  Divine  fulness, 
and  its  nature  and  quality  is  one  with  this  Fountain  from 
which  it  comes :  John  testified.  In  the  beginning  was  the 
Word,  and  the  Word  was  with  God,  &;c.  In  him  was  life, 
and  the  life  was  the  light  of  men. — He  also  testified,  that 
he  was  not  that  light,  but  came  for  a  witness,  to  bear 
witness,  that  that  was  the  true  Light,  which  lighteth  every 
man  that  cometh  into  the  world :  so  the  original  of  this 
light  is  Christ  Jesus,  the  Word. 

"  But  some  may  query  thus.  Is  Christ  the  Light  in  every 
man  ?  To  which  1  answer ;  Christ  doth  appear  by  his  light 
in  every  man  ;  and  the  Light  which  comes  from  Christ  is 
in  every  man  ;  as  is  clearly  demonstrated  from  the  Scrip- 
tures of  Truth ;  and  though  1  account  it  unnecessary  to 
answer  the  curious  inquiries  of  such,  who  seeking  to  know 
much,  do  not  walk  answerable  to  what  they  know ;  yet 
for  the  sake  of  such,  whose  understandings  are  not  opened, 
and  yet  are  inquiring  the  way  to  Sion,  I  add  this  similitude: 
The  natural  sun  is  jjlaced  by  the  Creator  to  lighten  the 
outward  world,  and  doth  extend  from  its  body,  a  measure 
of  its  light  and  natural  property,  shining  on  the  just  and 
the  unjust,  and  so  doth  daily  give  forth  of  that  virtue 
which  is  inherent  in  itself;  when  the  sun  shineth  on  any 


140         ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OP  JES17S  CHRIST. 

object  whatsoever,  we  sometimes  say,  the  sun  there  ap- 
pears, and  other  times  we  say,  there  is  the  sun ;  the  pro- 
priety of  either  of  which  manner  of  expressions,  I  suppose, 
none  will  question ;  for  light  in  that  appearance  is  seen, 
and  virtue  is  felt,  penetrating  to  the  refieshment  of  our 
natural  bodies  ;  and  this  light  and  heat  is  inseparable  from 
the  fulness ;  and  notwithstanding  it  daily  shineth  and  dis- 
plays its  virtuous  life  into,  and  over  all  the  earth  and  its 
inhabitants,  yet  its  body  is  not  any  way  exhausted  or  altered 
through  ages  and  generations. 

"  And  so,  1  say,  that  Christ,  the  universal  Fountain  of 
Life,  the  Sun  of  Righteousness,  the  Ocean  and  fulness  of 
spiritual  light,  life,  and  virtue,  from  whence  is  communi- 
cated a  measure  of  his  nature,  property,  and  quality,  is 
given  of  the  Father,  to  etdighten  a'i  the  sons  and  daughters 
of  men,  who  accordingly  are  all  enlightened  with  his  spi- 
ritual appearance  ;  and  though  this  appearance  cannot  be 
called  the  fulness,  yet  being  a  measure  of  that  fulness,  it  is 
one  in  nature  and  property  with,  and  inseparable  from,  the 
fulness ;  and  though  through  its  virtue  life  is  daily  commu- 
nicated unto  the  sons  of  men,  who  waiting  for  the  appear- 
ance thereof,  as  for  the  morning  light,  cannot  live  unto 
God  without  it,  yet  doth  he  admit  of  no  diminution,  altera- 
tion or  change;  but  all  fulness  of  divine  light,  life  and 
glory,  doth  and  shall,  through  every  age  and  generation, 
remain  with  him  :  and  albeit  the  veil  of  darkness  hath 
overshadowed  the  hearts  of  some,  so  as  when  we  give  tes- 
timony unto  the  universal  appearance  of  the  Sun  of  righte- 
ousness, in  the  hearts  of  all  the  sons  and  daughters  of 
men,  they  are  ready  to  say,  such  a  testimony  leads  to  the 
diminishing  of  that  glory  and  honour  which  belong  unto 
him,  as  he  is  the  Fulness,  and  sitting  at  the  right  hand  of 
the  Father;  inferring  from  such  our  testimony,  as  if,  whilst 
we  testify  to  his  appearance  in  our  hearts,  we  exclude  his 
presence  elsewhere  ;  which  inference,  1  say,  is  as  irrational, 
as  it  would  be  for  any  to  conclude,  that  because  we  say 
of  the  shining  and  appearance  of  the  sun,  there  is  the 
sun  ;  or  the  sun  there  appears;  therefore  we  exclude  the 
being  of  the  sun  elsewhere.  For  its  virtue  is  communi- 
cated to  our  natural  bodies,  every  one  having  in  measure 
some  enjoyment  of  the  virtue  or  light  of  the  natural  sun, 
which  is  light  to  the  eye,  even  as  the  outward  eye  is  light 
to,  or  of  the  natural  body ;  and  whosoever  they  are,  whose 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.  141 

invisible  senses  are  quickened  by  the  influencing  virtue 
which  proceeds  from  the  eternal  Sun  of  righteousness,  do 
thereby  see  and  discern,  that  these  things  are  according  to 
the  clear  manifestation  of  truth  in  their  inward  parts  ;  and 
from  a  true  sense  thereof,  can  of  a  truth  give  this  certain 
testimony,  that  Christ,  the  Lord,  by  his  holy  quickening 
spirit,  hath  appeared  in  them,  to  the  quickening  of  their 
immortal  souls ;  and  that  through  their  believing  in  the 
light,  and  obedience  to  his  appearance,  being  come  out  of 
that  state  which  is  reprobated  by  the  Lord,  can  of  certain 
experimental  knowledge  say,  Christ  is  in  us  the  hope  of 
glory.  And  so  when  we  direct  people  to  this  Word,  Light, 
Law,  Grace  and  Spirit,  we  do  not  thereby  intend,  that 
Christ  Jesus,  the  Light  of  the  World,  and  Gift  of  God,  is 
not  the  true  Saviour,  Redeemer,  and  Reconciler  of  man- 
kind unto  God.'^— Works,  page  71— 7G.  1673. 

In  an  essay,  entitled  "  A  Warning  unto  the  Rulers  and 
People  of  England,"  he  says  : — 

*'  So  hath  there  been  an  endeavour  in  our  day,  to  mis- 
represent the  servants  and  people  of  the  Lord,  as  deniers 
of  salvation  by  Jesus  Christ ;  making  his  birth  in  Bethlehem 
of  Judea,  his  travails,  sufferings,  blood,  death,  resurrection 
and  ascension,  of  no  value ;  deniers  of  the  scriptures  of 
truth;  and  instead  thereof,  preaching  up  salvation  by  meri- 
torious works  of  our  own ;  and  in  short,  representing  us 
as  enemies  to  Christianity  :  concerning  which  charges,  and 
every  particular  of  them,  full,  clear  and  demonstrative 
answers  have  been  and  are  given,  unto  which  1  refer  all 
unsatisfied  persons.  That  which  lies  on  my  spirit  at  this 
time,  is  to  declare  in  the  presence,  name  and  power  of  the 
Everlasting  God,  that  these  things  spoken  and  written  of 
us,  are  as  false  as  the  accusations  of  the  Pharisees  con- 
cerning Christ  Jesus,  and  as  false  as  the  accusations  of  the 
Jews  concerning  the  Apostles — For, 

"  1st.  We  declare  to  all  nations,  tongues,  and  langua- 
ges, that  we  believe  in  the  One,  Holy,  everlasting  God — 

"  2d.  We  believe  concerning  him,  that  he  is  a  Spirit ; 
and  concerning  his  worship,  that  it  is  in  Spirit,  and  spi- 
ritual— 

"  3rd.  We  believe,  preach  and  publish  salvation  in  or 
by  no  other  name,  but  in,  by,  and  through  him,  of  whom 
all  the  prophets  gave  testimony,  the  apostles  preached,  the 


142        ON  THE  PIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 

primitive  saints  believed  and  received,  namely,  Jesus 
Christ."— Page  128.  1674. 


WILLIAM  BAYLY. 

In  a  work,  entitled  "  Rebellion  Rebuked,"  v^^ritten  by 
this  Friend  and  John  Crook  jointly,  the  following  language 
is  used  : — 

"  We  believe  and  testify,  that  this  Jesus  of  Nazareth 
wrought  out,  or  fulfilled  all  righteousness  in  his  obedience 
both  in  doing  and  suffering  the  holy  law^  and  will  of  God, 
and  that  this  righteousness,  so  wrought  out  and  fulfilled, 
was  not  for  himself,  but  for  or  because  of,  all  such  as  truly 
seeing  they  have  no  covering  or  righteousness,  of  their 
own,  flee  unto  and  lay  hold  of  him  and  his  everlasting 
righteousness,  by  a  true  and  living  faith.  And  we  do 
further  testify,  that  this  choice  raiment  of  Christ's  right- 
eousness, is  not  brought  forth  and  put  upon  the  back  of 
any  prodigal,  while  he  remains  in  a  far  country,  feeding 
amongst  the  ewine,  but  at,  or  upon,  his  return  to  his  Fa- 
ther's house.  And  such  poor,  naked,  starved,  and  undone 
sinners,  as  in  themselves,  seeing  their  own  righteousness  to 
be  as  a  filthy  thing,  are  the  proper  subjects  of  this  right- 
eousness, as  being  now  made  meet  to  be  partakers  of  it. " 
—P.  19. 

"  We  believe  and  testify,  that  this  blood  exceeds  not 
only  the  blood  of  bulls  and  of  goats,  but  the  blood  of  the 
best  man  or  men  that  ever  was  or  shall  be  in  the  world. 
And  we  do  in  the  sight  of  God  really  own  the  blood  of  the 
Son  of  man,  both  according^  to  the  history  and  in  the  mys- 
tery, (as  we  do  his  cross,)  jjoth  as  shed  for  us,  and  to  be 
drank  by  us,  both  as  bespeaking  remission  of  sin  past 
through  faith  in  it,  and  as  sprinkling  the  conscience  of  true 
believers,  and  cleansing  them  from  all  sin.  Therefore  it 
is  called  the  precious  blood  of  Christ,  as  being  of  an  in- 
corruptible natur#>,  1  Pet.  i.  18,  19.  and  is  therefore  said 
to  speak  better  things  than  the  blood  of  Abel,  being  by  way 
of  emphasis,  called  the  blood  of  his  dear  Son,  &lc.  and  is 
also  called  a  price  ;  '  yea,  ye  are  bought  with  a  price,'  1 
Cor.  vi.  20.    By  all  which  it  is  manifest  to  be  of  infinite 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


143 


value,  both  in  the  account  of  God,  and  all  those  that  know 
it,  by  being  witnesses  of  its  virtue,  sprinkling  their  hearts 
from  an  evil  conscience,  Heb.  x.  22.  But  because  we  tes- 
tify, that  it  is  not  the  notion,  or  bare  historical  and  literal 
belief  of  those  things,  that  justifies  or  makes  us  really  free 
from  that  wrath  which  comes  upon  every  soul  of  man  that 
doeth  evil,  whether  Jew  or  gentile,  professor  or  profane  ; 
but  only  the  life  and  virtue  of  this  blood,  received  into  the 
heart  by  that  living  faith,  which  Christ  alone  is  the  author 
of ;  therefore  we  are  branded  with  slighting  the  blood  of 
the  man  Christ,  &c.  though  we  testify  our  esteem  thereof, 
both  in  the  history  and  in  the  mystery,  and  that  without 
the  life  and  virtue  of  this  blood  there  is  no  remission." — 
P.  20. 

"  And  be  it  known  to  thee  and  all  the  world,  that  the 
Quaker  owns  no  other  righteousness  to  be  justified  by,  but 
the  righteousness  of  Jesus  Christ ;  the  righteousness  which 
is  of  God  by  faith  in  him,  according  to  the  Scriptures  of 
truth  ;  nor  no  other  name  under  heaven  by  which  men  can 
be  saved,  whatever  any  of  you  dream  of  them  ;  and  yet 
they  desire  that  those  gifts  and  virtues  which  the  Spirit  of 
God  works  in  their  minds,  may  stand  and  be  increased, 
according  to  that  good  exhortation,  2  Pet.  i.  5.  'Add  to 
your  faith  virtue,  and  to  virtue  knowledge,  and  to  know- 
ledge temperance,  ^c.  for  he  that  lacketh  these  things  is 
blind."^— P.  37.  1673. 

In  reply  to  W.  Haworth,  who  charged  Friends  with  be- 
ing proud  and  pharisaical,  and  despising  Christ's  blood 
which  was  shed  for  them  on  the  cross,  he  says — 

"  What !  our  perfection  the  same  which  every  babe  in 
Christ  hath,  and  yet  proud,  pharisaical,  despising  Christ's 
blood,  not  prizing  his  sulferings  and  atonement,  and  a  de- 
ceived people  ;  how  can  this  be,  W.  H.  ?  Surely  thou  hast 
greatly  belied  and  abused  the  babes  in  Christ,  as  thou  wilt 
remember  one  day  ;  for  we  do  highly  prize  the  blood,  suf- 
ferings, and  atonement  of  Christ  Jesus,  beyond  expression, 
though  such  as  thou  speak  all  manner  of  evil  against  us 
falsely,  as  God  is  our  witness,  &c." — "  Counterfeit  Convert 
discovered,"  P.  98.  1676. 

To  the  assertion  that  the  person  of  Christ  was  the  Alpha 
and  Omega,  &zc.  he  replies  : — 

"Is  this  then  thy  real  description  of  the  person  of  Christ 
thou  so  much  talkest  of?  Surely  as  the  Alpha  and  Omega, 


144       ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 

the  Tree  of  life,  the  Rock  of  eternity,  he  was  before  his 
coming  in  the  flesh,  or  the  virgin  Mary  was  born,  of  whom 
Christ  according  to  the  flesh  came :  What  is  then  become 
of  the  glorious  manhood  and  body  of  Christ  ?  Is  not  that 
his  person        lb.  99. 

To  the  same  opponent,  he  says  : — 

"  How  darest  thou  say  that  I  called  the  Light,  the  blood 
of  Christ,  or  the  blood  that  cleanseth,  as  in  the  139th  p. 
of  thy  b©ok?  Let  the  reader  see  that  43d  p.  of  my  book 
thou  quotest,  where  my  words  are  these.  But  the  precious 
blood  of  Jesus  Christ,  as  of  a  Lamb  without  spot  and 
blemish,  1  Pet.  i.  18."— P.  107. 


CHRISTOPHER  TAYLOR, 

In  his  reply  to  William  Haworth,  says — 

The  thorough  work  of  regeneration  "cannot  be  without 
true  justifying  faith  in  the  Son  of  God,  by  virtue  whereof 
this  work  is  wrought  in  the  heart.  Yet  he  [the  opponent] 
saith  this  is  not  sufficient  for  salvation,  but  calls  this  inward 
work  of  Christ,  legal  righteousness ;  therefore  he  denies 
the  perfection  of  the  work  of  Christ,  what  he  did  for  us  in 
the  days  of  his  flesh  and  at  his  death,  and  the  eflicacy  of 
that  one  offering  and  blood  that  was  shed  for  us,  and  was 
for  the  perfecting  of  the  sanctified  ones,  that  so  they  might 
be  brought  into  the  everlasting  kingdom  of  his  glory,  in 
which  is  peace,  completing  and  perfection,  union  and  com- 
munion with  God  in  Christ  Jesus.*" — Rebellion  Rebuked, 
p.  123.  1673. 


EDWARD  BOURN, 

In  his  reply  to  Dr.  Good's  pamphlet  against  Friends, 
states  the  following  objections  and  answers,  on  behalf  of  the 
Society,  viz. — 

"  Thou  sayest  that  we  say,  Christ  did  not  make  satisfac- 
tion for  the  sins  of  men. 

Ans.  "  By  one  offering  he  hath  perfected  for  ever  them 
that  are  sanctified  ;  and  we  are  not  redeemed  with  corrup- 


ox  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OE  JESUS  CHRIST. 


145 


tible  things,  but  with  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  as  of  a  Lamb 
without  5pot;  and  we  have  an  Advocate  with  the  Father, 
Jesus  Christ  the  righteous,  and  he  is  the  reconciUation  for 
our  sins,  and  not  for  our  sins  only,  but  for  the  sins  of  the 
whole  world. 

"  And  thou  sayest  that  we  say.  Justification  is  not  by  im- 
puted righteousness,  and  that  good  works  are  the  cause  of 
our  justification, 

Ans.  "  Christ  Jesus  is  our  righteousness  and  sanctifica- 
tion  and  redemption  :  God  hath  made  him  so,  and  we  are 
justified  freely  by  his  grace,  through  the  redemption  that  is 
in  Christ  Jesus,  and  therefore  by  the  works  of  the  law,  there 
is  no  flesh  justified,  Rom.  iii.  23.  We  are  justified  by  faith 
in  Christ  Jesus,  which,  the  work  of  faith,  which  works  by 
iove,  is  not  denied  by  the  apostle  nor  us  ;  if  thou  deniest 
that,  thy  faith  is  dead."— P.  6.  1675. 


GILES  BARNARDISTON. 

Amid  the  many  deep  trials  and  sufferings  which  fell  to 
the  lot  of  our  worthy  and  honourable  predecessors  in  the 
religious  Society  of  Friends,  there  were  few  that  occasioned 
them  greater  atiliction  than  the  defection  of  false  brethren. 
They  had  much  to  endure  from  unrelenting  persecutors, 
who  stripped  them  of  their  outward  substance,  inflicted 
upon  them  severe  corporal  punishments,  or  dragged  them 
away  to  prisons  and  loathsome  dungeons.  Yet  all  these 
were  less  keenly  felt,  than  the  opposition  they  met  with, 
from  those  who  had  known  and  enjoyed  the  blessedness 
of  the  truth,  as  it  is  in  Jesus  ;  but  for  want  of  humble 
watchfulness,  and  reverent  dependence  on  Him,  fell  away 
from  a  good  estate,  and  became  open  opposers  of  that  gos- 
pel, which  they  had  once  believed  in  and  obeyed.  Speaking 
of  such  as  these,  our  worthy  elder  George  Fox  says,  "  1 
have  observed,  that  they  who  have  been  convinced,  and 
have  not  lived  and  walked  in  the  truth,  have  been  the  w^orst 
enemies  to  the  truth,  and  done  most  hurt  amongst  Friends 
in  the  truth,  and  to  others.  In  these  I  have  seen  fulfilled, 
what  the  Lord  did  long  since  show  me,  '  that  such  would 
be  greater  deceivers  than  all  the  priests  and  professors.' 
F  or  such  as  come  as  far  as  Cain,  Balaam,  Korah,  and  Dathan, 
who  could  preach  Christ,  and  say  they  had  preached  in  his 
13 


1  46        ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


name ;  such  as  came  to  be  apostles,  and  had  tasted  of  the 
power  of  Christ,  and  then  turned  from  it ;  such  could  yet 
speak  their  old  experiences,  and  have  good  words  like 
Korah  and  Balaam,  but  not  keeping  in  the  life  and  truth, 
they  deceived  the  hearts  of  the  simple."* 

*  The  most  extensive  division  that  occurred  amongst  our  early 
Friends,  and  which  occasioned  them  greater  distress  and  trouble  than 
any  other,  was  that  which  originated  with  Wilkinson  and  Story.  The 
following  account  of  its  rise  and  progress  may  not  be  uninteresting  to 
the  reader,  and  will  show  that  it  proceeded  from  the  same  spirit  of  dis- 
affection to  the  wholesome  restraints  of  discipline,  joined  to  the  restless 
ambition  of  some  aspiring  persons,  and  the  libertine  views  of  others, 
that  have  produced  such  sorrowful  effects  in  the  present  day. 

Whilst  the  persecution  of  Friends  was  raging  in  many  parts  of  Eng- 
land, there  occurred  some  division  amongst  the  people  called  Quakers. 

Those  who  first  appeared  to  head  it  were  John  Wilkinson  and  John 
Story,  preachers  among  them,  who  showed  themselves  discontented 
against  George  Fox,  chiefly  about  the  management  of  church  affairs, 
because  things  did  not  always  go  as  they  icould  have  them — and  since 
George  Fox  had  been  the  first  instituter  of  good  order  amongst  his 
Friends,  he  was  the  chief  object  of  the  envy  of  the  malecontented.  And 
because,  in  the  beginning,  there  were  no  such  meetings,  or  discipline, 
and  yet  they  had  lived  in  mutual  peace  and  unity,  it  was  asserted  that 
such  meetings  were  needless,  and  that  every  one  ought  to  be  guided  by 
the  Spirit  of  God  in  his  own  mind,  and  not  to  be  governed  by  the  rules 
of  man." 

"  In  great  communities,  some  men  are  generally  to  be  found  who  love  to 
govern  xvithout  being  Jit  for  it ;  so  some  of  these  soon  adhered  to  Wilkin- 
son and  Story,  besides  several  others,  who,  in  time  of  persecution,  rather 
would  have  met  privately,  than  come  into  public  meetings,  and  so  be 
exposed  to  the  fury  of  their  enemies,  and  such  also  as  would  rather  pay 
tithes  to  the  priests,  &;c.  than  suffer  spoil  or  imprisonment  for  the  refusal 
thereof.  Hence  arose  a  schism  or  rent,  first  in  the  north  of  England — 
and  some  who  went  under  the  denomination  of  Separatists,  began  to 
keep  meetings  by  themselves,  and  so  to  leave  their  former  Friends,  though 
they  pretended  to  agree  with  them  in  matter  of  doctrine.  To  these  Separa- 
tists, afterwards  resorted  such  as  were  not  strict  livers,  and  therefore  loere 
unwilling  to  submit  to  church  discipline ;  for  this  was  now  become  the 
common  saying  of  these  people,  "  that  every  one,  having  received  a 
measure  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  ought  to  regard  that  Leader,  without 
minding  any  rules  prescribed  by  others^ 

"  At  length  this  rent  appeared  also  in  London,  where  likewise  male- 
contents  were  not  wanting,  w/io,  not  being  strictly  conscientious,  would 
rather  live  without  any  restraint ;  and  even  some  that  were  honest  were, 
by  fair  words,  persuaded  to  separation  :" — "  But  how  specious  soever 
the  pretence  of  these  Separatists  was,  and  whatever  endeavours  were 
made,  [to  keep  them  together,]  yet  they  were  not  able  to  continue  and 
subsist  firmly  ;  but  at  length  they  decayed  and  vanished  as  snow  in  the 
fields  :  for  the  best  among  them  came  in  time  to  see  that  they  had  been 
deceived  ;  and  the  less  honest  grew  worse — for  among  themselves  they 
werg  not  free  from  division.""    See  SewelFs  History,  p.  659. 

It  is  very  satisfactory  to  find,  that  a  considerable  number  of  the  more 
sincere  hearted,  who  had  been  deluded  by  this  separating  spirit,  after- 
wards condemned  their  errors,  and  returned  to  their  brethren  of  the 


THE  DRINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESLS  CHBIST.  147 


Among  the  number  of  these  false  brethren,  who  proved 
themselves  enemies  to  the  church  and  its  salutary  order, 
while  they  made  high  professions  of  greater  spirituality  and 

Society  of  Friends.  In  an  old  book  kept  among  the  Society  Records, 
at  Kendal,  [England,]  containing  testimonies  by  individuals  who  had 
incurred  the  censure  of  their  brethren,  condemning  their  misconduct, 
there  are  several  which  were  given  in  by  those  who  joined  with  Wilkin- 
son and  Story ;  one  of  which  is  signed  by  thirty-nine  persons. 

There  is  also  extant  a  remarkable  Epistle,  on  the  subject  of  this  sepa-  - 
ration,  issued  "  From  a  Meeting  held  at  Ellis  Hookes  his  chamber,  in 
London,  the  12th  of  the  6th  Month,  1677,"  and  signed  by  sixty-six 
Friends.  After  speaking  of  the  heavenly  presence  of  Christ  Jesus  with 
which  they  had  been'favoured  in  their  Meeting,  and  the  general  pros- 
perity of  the  church,  they  say  : — 

"But  truly  with  bowed  spirits,  and  grief  of  heart,  have  we  perceived 
the  obstinacy  and  obdurateness  of  some  that  have  gone  into  the  self- 
will,  casting  tender  love  and  entreaty  behind  their  backs ;  setting  up, 
continuing  m,  and  promoting,  false  and  pernicious  jealousies  and  secret 
stniiings,  whereby  they  are  darkened  in  their  understanding,  and  so 
have,  through  the  power  of  the  enemy  of  the  King  of  righteousness  his 
peace,  set  up  a  kijid  of  standard  of  separatio7i  from  the  blessed  fellowship 
and  communion  that  the  church  of  Christ  secretly  possessed  together, 
to  the  dishonour  of  God,  his  Truth  and  people  ;  more  especially  J.  S. 
and  J.  W.  notwithstanding  the  many  visitations  and  admonitions  of  love 
and  life,  even  in  the  deepest  travails,  and  that  from  time  to  time  and 
year  to  year,  particularly  the  sense  and  admonitions  of  the  last  Yearly 
Meeting,  written  in  great  love,  that  they  might  return  and  be  reconciled 
before  they  otfer  their  gift,  which  Ihey  have  rejected. 

"  And  forasmuch  as  it  appears  that  they  will  not  come  at  us  or  near 
us,  in  the  peaceable  truth,  which  we  have  frequently  truly  desired  for 
their  good,  but  that  they  go  on  in  their  opposition  and  evil  smiting 
against  the  faithful  brethren,  and  practice  of  the  church  of  Christ,  refus- 
ing to  dissolve  their  separate  company  in  the  north,  or  to  clear  their 
hands  of  them  by  a  faitliful  testimony  against  them,  or  so  much  as  blot 
their  names  out  of  their  paper  of  separation  ;  and  because  we  are  sensi- 
ble that  they  have  made  an  ill  use  of  our  forbearance,  even  to  strengthen 
themselves  in  their  separation,  and  cover  their  evil  designs  the  more 
among  some  simple  hearted  Friends,  persevering  therein  by  word,  writing 
and  practice:  We  are  constrained,  after  this  continued  waiting  and 
exhortation,  thus  slighted  by  them,  for  the  glory  of  the  name  of  the 
Lord,  the  sake  of  the  peace  of  the  churches  of  Christ,  and  that  we  may 
stand  clear  in  the  power  of  God  ;  of  the  blood  of  all,  in  the  great  and 
notable  day  of  account,  rriorc  publicly  to  reprove  and  judge  them,  in  these 
things^and  we  do  hereby  reprove^  and  judge  that  jealous,  rending  and 
separating  spirit,  and  them  and  their  separating  company,  as  being  in  that 
spirit  of  separation,  and  that  by  the  power  and  spirit  of  our  God  ;  and  we 
do  warn  all  to  wliom  this  comes,  to  beware  of  the  said  J.  S.  and  J.  W. 
whose  wa}-,  at  present,  is  not  the  way  of  peace  and  Christian  concord,  for 
if  it  were,  they  would  not  offer  their  gift  till  reconciled  to  their  brethren, 

"  Therefore,  brethren,  every  where,  stand  up  in  the  power  and  wisdom 
of  God,  for  the  testimony  of  truth  against  that  wrong, /ea/ows,  murmur- 
ing and  dividing  spirit ;  and  where  they  come,  warn  them,  in  the  name 
of  the  Lord,  to  go  home  and  be  reconciled  to  their  brethren,  and  not  go 
thus  up  and  down  to  offer  up  their  gift  (which  in  this  state  is  not  a  peace, 


148        ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST, 


clearer  discoveries  of  divine  light,  was  a  certain  Jeffery 
Bullock.  Elated  bj  a  fond  conceit  of  his  own  attainnpients, 
and  nnistaking  the  vagaries  of  a  deluded  imagination  for  the 

but  a  division  offering')  contrary  to  the  precept  of  Chri&t  Jesus,  our  Lord, 
of  being  first  reconciled,  whatever  their  pretences  be  ;  and  therein  will 
you  acquit  yourselves  in  God's  sight,  and  show  true  love  and  friendship 
unto  them,  and  those  that  may  be  hurt  by  them ;  which  our  friends  most 
earnestly  desire,  yea  that  it  may  be  truly  well  with  them,  both  here  and 
for  ever.  And  from  the  Lord  we  say,  had  they  loved  the  prosperity  of 
Zion  and  the  peace  of  Jerusalem,  more  than  their  own  self-will  and  self- 
separation^  and  had  they  sought  the  unity  that  is  in  the  truth,  and 
secret  communion  of  brethren,  which  stands  in  that  love  that  thinks 
no  evil,  and  that  wisdom  that  is  gentle,  and  very  easy  to  be  entreated 
by  the  brethren ;  sweet  and  very  precious  had  our  fellowship  been 
together  at  this  day. 

"  And  it  is  our  exhortation  to  you.  Friends  and  brethren  of  Monthly 
and  Quarterly  Meetings,  that  you  watch  in  the  light  and  power  of  God, 
against  this  separating  spirit  that  smites  at  the  blessed  fellowship  of  the 
churches  of  Christ ;  and  where  it  enters  any,  in  God's  love  to  admonish, 
exhort  and  warn  such  to  take  heed  of  that  ravenous  spirit,  and  to  keep 
the  unity  and  peace  of  the  family  of  the  Lord,  the  household  of  Christ; 
and  if,  notwithstanding  your  tender  Christian  dealing  and  forbearance, 
such  persons  persevere  and  go  on  in  their  separate  spirit  and  practice, 
let  GoiTs  truth  be  clear  of  them,  and  truth  set  over  their  heads,  according  to 
the  blessed  order  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ,  settled  amongst  you;  and,  dear 
brethren,  be  careful  not  to  suffer  your  meetings,  which  were  gathered,  not 
by  the  will  of  man,  but  by  the  power  and  wisdom  of  the  Lord  God,  to 
be  disturbed,  overruled,  and  spoiled  by  heady,  obstinate,  and  contentious: 
■persons,  that  disturb  the  peace  of  the  church  of  Christ ;  neither  fear  man, 
-  hut  eye  the  Lord,  and  wait  in  his  power  and  wisdom  to  be  guided  and 
ordered,  and  so  go  on  to  your  work  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  ;  for  the 
seed  of  life,  and  not  the  wisdom  that  is  from  below,  must  rule  and  have 
the  dominion  for  ever. 

"  But  forasmuch  as  the  way  of  the  working  of  this  subtle  enemy  has 
been,  to  suggest  that  it  is  the  design  of  some  to  make  themselves  lords  over 
God'^s  heritage,  and  to  set  up  a  ivorldly  and  arbitrary  power  in  the  church 
of  Christ;  and  then  to  run  out  into  severe  exclamations  against  imposi- 
tion, crying  up  liberty  of  conscience,  thereby  casting  a  mist  before  the 
eyes  of  the  simple,  and  a  stumbliu^i  block  in  the  way  of  the  weak;  this, 
we  feel  ourselves  constrained,  in  the  love  of  the  Lord,  for  the  good  of 
all,  to  declare,  and  the  Lord  that  gathered  us,  and  [hath]  preserved  us 
to  this  day  by  his  Spirit,  is  our  record,  that  we  deny  and  abhor  any  such 
thing ;  for  we  have  one  Lord.  Judge,  King,  and  Lawgiver  in  the  church, 
and  that  is  Christ  Jesus  ;  unto  whose  light,  power  and  Spirit,  we  have 
been  turned,  and  in  that  have  worshipped  him,  and  had  fellowship 
together  to  this  very  day,  and  are  your  servants  for  his  sake. 

"And  we  are  assured  in  the  Lord,  that  those  that  keep  in  the  light, 
and  life,  and  power  of  Jesus,  will  have  fellowship  with  us,  and  truly  our 
fellowship  is  with  the  Father  and  the  Son;  and  though  it  is  far  from  us 
to  bruise  or  hurt  the  poorest  or  least  member  in  the  church  of  Christ, 
who  may  not  have  that  clearness  of  sight  and  strength  of  faith  which 
the  Lord  hath  brought  us  to,  but  that  they  may  be  cherished;  yet  by 
that  salt  which  we  have  in  ourselves  from  the  Lord,  are  we  enabled  to 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.  149 


pure  influences  of  the  spirit  of  Christ,  he  adopted  and  pro- 
mulgated the  false  and  anti-christicn  notion,  that  the  gift  of 
divine  grace  in  the  soul,  superseded  the  necessity,  andcan- 

sauour  [distinguish]  between  the  Iransformations  of  the  _  enemy ^  and  the 
scruples  of  the  innocent;  and,  as  to  be  tender  of  the  one,  so  to  give  judg- 
ment against  the  other:  And  our  day  and  age  hath  lamentably  shown  us 
the  effects  of  that  spirit,  which,  under  the  pretence  of  crying  down  imposi- 
tion, and  pleading  for  liberty,  a.r\d  doing  notJiing  but  what  it  is  free  to, 
endeavoured  to  lay  loaste  the  blessed  unity  of  brethren,  and  so  overrun  the 
heritage  of  the  Lord,  that  lived  together  as  an  orderly  family  under  the 
law  of  life,  and  living  order  of  the  gospel,  witJt  a  loose  and  unsubject  con- 
versation, which  would  bring  confusion  in  the  church  : — " 

"  Oh,  Friends  !  watch  in  the  power  of  God  against  this  spirit,  that 
would  make  them  twain  that  God  hath  made  one,  and  separate  what 
God  hath  joined  together ;  and  you  that  have  any  interest  in  them,  and 
to  whom  their  regard  is,  O  have  a  care  that  you  give  them  no  strength  in 
their  manifest  separation;  but  stand  upon  your  watch  tower,  dear 
Friends,  in  God's  love,  and  touch  not  with  that  spirit,  the  enemy  of 
Zion's  glory  and  her  peace,  and  give  not  your  strengOi  to  them,  but  deal 
faithfully  with  tJiem,  and  seek  them  in  God's  way  and  wisdom  ;  that 
whatever  becomes  of  them  in  the  end,  you  may  be  clear  of  their  blood 
in  the  sight  of  the  Lord,  and  they  may  not  say  but  that  they  have  had 
a  day  of  love  and  visitation  :  And  truly  that  which  has  encouraged  us 
in  this  Epistle  is,  that  good  success  [which]  God  hath  blessed  our  like 
endeavours  in  his  power  with  ;  for  many  [who  were]  deceived  by  them, 
and  [had]  confederated  with  them,  having  seen  their  snare,  in  tenderness 
of  spirit  have  honestly  confessed  their  fault,  and  are  come  from  them, 
and  have  testified  both  against  the  separate  company,  and  themselves 
for  having  been  of  it ;  and  now  live  in  unity  with  their  brethren,  and 
feel  the  joy  and  quiet  habitation,  that,  in  the  communion  of  saints,  and 
fellowship  of  the  churches  of  Jesus,  are  enjoyed  :  Praises  to  the  Lord  for 
ever.  And  as  we  desire,  so  we  hope,  that  more  will  be  brought  to  the 
same  blessed  sense. 

"  So  be  zealous  for  the  Lord,  dear  brethren,  and  stand  up  in  his  Spirit 
and  power  for  the  peace  of  his  church,  and  in  his  precious,  peaceable 
life,  dwell,  that  keeps  in  soundness  of  mind  ;  then  will  you  show  mercy 
to  that  to  which  mercy  is  due,  a.nd  judgment  to  that  to  which  judgment  is 
due,  without  respect  to  persons;  and  herein  our  pure,  true  love  is  shoion  to 
them,  and  all  mankind  :  And  the  God  of  our  heavenly  love,  peace  and 
precious  fellowship,  be  with  us  all,  and  bless  us,  and  keep  us  to  the 
glory  of  his  eternal  name,  who,  over  all  spirits,  angels  and  men,  thrones, 
dignities  and  dominions,  reigns,  and  is  worthy  and  blessed  for  ever. 

"  We  are,  unanimously,  your  dear  and  faithful  brethren,  in  the  labours, 
travail,  tribulation,  patience,  hope  and  rejoicing  of  the  kingdom  of  Jesus 
our  Lord." 

Thomas  Taylor,  Thomas  Briggs,  William  Edmundson,  Ambrose 
Rigge,  Jasper  Batt,  John  Burnyeat,  James  Harrison,  John  Bourne, 
Cuthbert  Hayhurst,  Henry  Jackson,  Giles  Barnardiston,  John  Moon, 
Morgan  Watkinson,  Thomas  Atkins,  William  Gibson,  Christopher 
Bacon,  Roger  Longworth,  Christopher  Taylor,  Richard  Davies,  John 
Whitehead,  Nicholas  Gates,  Leonard  Fell,  John  Abraham,  Stephen 
Smith,  Bray  Doyley,  Thomas  Holmes,  James  H.,  Thos.  Robertson, 
Wm.  Gosnell,  Benjn,  Antrobus,  Saml.  Jennings,  Richd.  Finder,  Phineas 


160        ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHEIST. 


celled  the  benefits,  of  the  coming  and  sufferings  of  our 
blessed  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ.  Being  rebuked  by 
the  Society  for  this  and  other  errors,  he  assumed  an  air  of 
great  importance,  and  inveighed  with  much  vehemence 
against  the  faithful  elders  in  the  church.  His  refractory 
and  overbearing  conduct,  together  with  the  unsoundness  of 
his  doctrines,  made  it  necessary  for  Friends  to  disown  him, 
which  was  accordingly  done  by  a  large  Quarterly  Meeting, 
in  the  year  1676. 

"  This  unhappy  man  afterwards  wrote  a  book  against 
Friends,  in  which  he  upbraids  them  with  much  acrimony, 
"because,"  to  use  the  language  of  Giles  Barnardiston, 
"  the  judgment  [of  the  Society]  is  gone  forth  against  him, 
for  denying  that  Christ  that  died  at  Jerusalem  to  be  the 
Judge  and  Saviour  ;  who,  having  denied  Him  in  his  work- 
ings for  our  salvation,  we  cannot  think  it  strange  to  sec 
him  inveighing  against  the  ministers  and  elders,  and  the 
form  and  order  in  the  church,  established  by  the  Lord  and 
his  power  in  them,  which  disowns  his  disorders,  &c. 

To  the  calumnious  and  abusive  pamphlet  of  Bullock,"^ 

Bell,  James  Fletcher,  Thomas  Zachary,  Thos.  Breisley,  John  Tysoe, 
John  Watson,  Thos.  Burr,  Wm.  Fallowfield,  Jona.  Johnson,  Richd. 
Vickris,  James  Claypoole,  Oliver  Sansom,Luke  Howard,  Richd,  Snead, 
Jno.  Wilsford,  Jno.  Elson,  Jno.  Dew,  Sam).  Cater,  Jno.  Vaughton, 
Ezekiel  Woolley,  Francis  Fincher,  Jno.  Kilborne,  Wm.  Whaley,  Thos. 
Ellwood,  Saml.  Fulbeck,  Jno.  Hig-gens,  Thos.  Larimore,  Jno.  Hill,  Anthy. 
Tompkins,  John  Boy,  Charles  Marshall,  John  Blaiklin,  Wm.  Penn, 
Francis  Moore. 

Within  a  few  years  after  the  rise  of  the  Society,  a  number  of  persons 
who  made  profession  of  its  principles,  being  deluded  by  the  pretended 
revelations  of  one  John  Perot,  joined  him  in  a  separation  from  tlie  body. 
Many  of  them  were  afterwards  brought  to  see  and  condemn  their  error 
and  returned  again  into  the  communion  and  fellowship  of  the  church; 
v/hile  others,  among  whom  was  Perot  liimself,  fell  entirely  away,  and 
made  shipwreck  of  faith  and  a  good  conscience.  It  is  a  remarka- 
ble circumstance,  that  none  of  those  who  have  seceded  from  the  Society 
have  ever  been  able  to  maintain  any  standing  as  a  rehgious  body,  but, 
however  flourishing  Ihey  appeared  at  first,  have  soon  dwindled  and 
gone  to  decay. 

*  It  was  in  reply  to  this  pamphlet  of  Jeffery  Bullock's,  that  Isaac 
Pennington  wrote  .his  tract,  entitled  "  Somewhat  relating  to  Church 
Government,"  &c.  "  and  also  Remarks  upon  some  passages  in  a  late 
book,  "entitled  '  Antichrist's  transformations  witl)in,  discovered  by  the 
Light  within,  &c.'  "  In  this  treatise,  Isaac  Pennington  notices  the  tes- 
timony issued  by  Friends  against  JefFery  Bullock,  and  replies  to  the  ob- 
jections made  by  him  to  some  parts  of  it.  Thus  in  the  fourth  volume 
of  his  works,  page  353,  I  find  the  following,  viz, 

"He excepts  against  that  passage  in  Friends'  Paper  ;  as  he  recites  it, 
'  that  none  are  to  minister  but  those  that  are  reconciled  to  the  church, 
and  have  the  approbation  of  the  elders.'  " 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


151 


Giles  Bariiardiston  wrote  a  reply,  from  which  I  extract  the 
following  passages,  viz. — 

"  And  as  to  our  testimony  to  that  Christ  that  died  with- 
out the  gates  at  Jerusalem,  we  are  glad  for  the  truth  and 
our  sakes,  thou  hast  printed  it,  and  our  dealings  with  thee 
in  that  particular,  concerning  thy  opposition  to  us  in  it, 
and  we  can  leave  it  to  the  witness  of  God  in  the  consci- 
ences of  them  that  see  it ;  and  thy  seeming  answer  unto 
it  is  something  answered  in  what  is  already  written  ;  and  I 
am  willing  to  add  this  further,  seeing  thou  thinkest  thou 
art  yet  unanswered,  and  also  for  the  sake  of  the  simple. 
[The  church  of]  Rome  and  the  priests  saying  that  they 
own  justification  and  condemnation  by  that  Christ  that  died 
at  Jerusalem,  makes  it  not  anti-christian  doctrine  :  And  we 
do  not  deny  the  true  doctrine  that  Rome  and  the  priests 
own,  but  the  anti-christian:  and  His  not  contrary  to  the 
Scriptures  and  the  form  of  sound  words,  to  expect  justifi- 
cation and  condemnation  by  that  Christ  that  died  at  Jeru- 
salem, but  agreeing  with  them  :  And  thy  subtilty  is  seen, 
in  taking  those  expressions  to  exclude  the  manhood,  in 
which  it  is  really  included,  which  says,  '  By  grace  you  are 
saved,  and  therefore  [thou  sayest]  not  by  him  that  died 
though  he  was  full  of  grace,  and  by  it  tasted  death,  that 
he  might  reconcile  unto  God,  without  which  [there  is]  no 
salvation." — P.  11. 

"  But  thou  tellest  us,  '  Only  all  the  \yorld  was  freed  from 

To  which  Isaac  Pennington  replies: — "  What  is  the  end  of  ministerino' 
but  to  gather  out  of  the  world  into  the  church,  or  to  build  up  the  church  r 
And  are  they  fit  to  do  either,  who  are  not  reconciled  to  the  church?  Or 
whom  the  spirit,  life,  and  power,  in  the  church  or  elders,  hath  not  unity 
with  ?"  From  this  we  may  see  how  early  the  Society  began  to  exercise 
the  necessary  and  salutary  care  over  its  ministers,  by  the  appointment  of 
judicious  elders  of  sound  and  solid  judgment,  to  watch  over,  and  rebuke 
or  encourage  them  as  occasion  required. 

It  appears  Jeffery  Bullock  held  the  doctrine,  that  the  Light  or  Spirit 
in  man  was  the  whole  Deity  ;  and  asks  in  his  book,  "  Whether  the 
Light  or  Spirit,  Seed,  and  God,  be  jiot  all  one?"  To  this  Isaac  Pen- 
nington replies,  "  God  is  the  fulness^  the  Seed  is  a  measure  and  manifes- 
tation of  Him,  the  infinite  Fulness.'' 

To  the  same  notion,  I.  P.  again  replies,  "  Who  denies  that  God  and 
Christ  and  the  Holy  Seed,  which  are  one  in  nature^  though  not  in  measure 
and  fulness^  as  he  is  in  himself,  is  above  the  seed  of  the  serpent?" 

For  an  extract  from  this  treatise,  in  which  I.  P.  replies  to  his  charge 
against  the  Society  of  having  gone  back  to  the  professors'  Christ  and 
Saviour,  who  died  without  the  gates  of  Jerusalem,"  see  pages  116  and 
117  of  this  work.  The  whole  tract  is  worthy  of  an  attentive  perusal, 
and  will  throw  much  light  on  this  interesting  case. 


162        ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


their  offerings  for  sin  by  that  one  offering ;  and  that  only 
has  an  also  too,  they  were  outwardly  reconciled  by  the 
death  of  his  Son.'  And  was  not  He  that  was  the  one  offer- 
ing for  sin,  that  ended  all  other  offerings,  the  Justifier, 
Condemner,  and  Saviour?  Why  else  did  he  put  an  end  by 
it  to  all  other  offerings,  but  because  they  were  faulty,  and 
had  not  efficacy  in  them  to  justify  and  save  ?  And  He  that 
reconciles  to  God  by  his  death,  must  needs  be  the  alone 
Justifier  and  Saviour;  and  there  is  not  another." — P.  12. 

And  our  testimony  has  always  had  a  reverend  esteem 
of  that  precious  blood  that  was  spilled  without  the  gates, 
as  being  of  great  value  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord,  and  having 
a  testimony  in  it  towards  the  remission  of  sin,  to  obhge  all 
that  are  sensible  of  the  end  thereof,  not  to  live  unto  them- 
selves, but  unto  him  that  died  for  them  :  And  as  they  are 
to  be  blamed,  that  will  not  cotne  to  the  light,  but  cry  it 
down,  relying  upon  the  death  and  sufferings  without  it:  so 
art  thou,  who  pretendest  to  cry  up  the  light,  to  render  the 
loving  kindness  of  the  Lord  invalid,  in  sending  his  Son  to 
lay  down  his  life  and  precious  blood,  and  taste  death  for 
mankind.  And  such  as  speak  from  the  Light,  which  is  the 
Life  that  was  in  that  blessed  body,  can  never  disregard,  but 
have  an  high  esteem  of  what  he  did  and  suffered  therein." — • 
P.  12,  13.  1676. 


JOHN  VAUGHTON. 

Thomas  Powell,  who  styled  himself  a  minister  of  the 
gospel,  having  asserted  that  our  blessed  Lord  and  Saviour 
Jesus  Christ  was  the  greatest  sinner  in  the  world,  and 
written  in  defence  of  this  assertion,  John  Vaughton  found 
himself  engaged  to  publish  a  refutation  of  so  blasphemous 
a  notion.  In  this  pamphlet,  1  find  the  following  observa- 
tions, viz. —  • 

"  T.  P.  take  notice,  that  though  we  deny  and  oppose  thy 
charge  against  Christ,  as  unscriptural  and  unsound,  who 
sayest,  he  was  the  greatest  sinner  in  the  world  ;  and  in  thy 
epistle  thou  sayest,  that  [by]  the  Word  he  was  made  sin  for 
us,  many  understand  a  sacrifice  for  sin,  &:c.  which  thou 
sayest  thou  acknowledgest  to  be  a  godly  sense  :  The  godly 
sense  is  the  true  and  right  sense,  which  sense  we  own  ;  and 
hadst  thou  kept  to  this  godly  sense,  thou  hadst  not  been 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.  153 


opposed  by  us ;  but  thou  giving  another  sense,  contrary  to 
this,  that  is  an  ungodly  one ;  and  therefore  we  oppose  it. 
Yet  we  own  that  holy  Man  Christ  Jesus  to  be  that  one 
offering,  who  hath  perfected  for  ever  them  who  are  sancti- 
fied, I  say  we  dearly  own  him,  who  offered  up  himself 
through  the  eternal  Spirit,  as  a  Lamb  without  spot  and. 
blemish :  he  is  the  propitiation  for  our  sins,  and  not  for 
ours  only,  but  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world  ;  we  have 
received  power  from  God  the  Father  to  preach  forgiveness 
of  sins  that  are  past  in  the  name  of  Christ  Jesus  through 
the  forbearance  of  God." — Page  5. — ; — 167G. 

"  1  need  not  much  enlarge  to  prove  we  own  Christ  Jesus, 
or  ourselves  Christians,  seeing  it  never  entered  into  the 
hearts,  nor  was  ever  the  doctrine  of  any  of  the  leading 
Quakers,  as  he  terms  them,  to  deny  Christ  Jesus  in  any 
of  his  appearances  or  manifestations,  whether  within  or 
without ;  and  though  men  in  their  prejudiced  spirits  do 
judge  us  as  denyers  of  Christ  Jesus  ;  yet  be  it  known  unto 
all,  that  we  expect  salvation  and  redemption  by  no  other 
thing  or  means  whatsoever,  than  by  that  Christ  Jesus,  de- 
clared of  and  borne  witness  unto  in  the  Holy  Scriptures." 
—Page  18. 

"  We  own  God,  the  Man  Christ  Jesus,  by  whom  God 
will  judge  the  secrets  of  all  hearts,  and  the  true  unity  and 
fellowship,  as  they  owned  them  that  writ  the  Scriptures, 
howbeit  we  confess,  both  that  Christ  after  the  flesh  was 
born  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  yet  is  God  over  all,  blessed  for 
ever  ;  that  the  Father  is  greater  than  the  Son,  and  yet  one, 
and  that  Christ  is  Head  and  Lord  of  his  people,  yet  one 
with  his  people."— P.  19.  1676. 


SAMUEL  CATER. 

In  a  pamphlet  containing  a  relation  of  some  of  the  prin- 
cipal matters  that  passed  in  a  public  dispute  at  Thriploe, 
in  Cambridgeshire,  the  loth  of  the  second  month,  1676, 
between  Francis  Holdcraft  and  Joseph  Odde,  and  Samuel 
Cater,  with  some  others  of  the  people  called  Quakers,  signed 
by  S.  Cater  and  J.  Webb,  are  the  following  remarks  : — 

"  For  the  sake  of  the  people  that  are  here,  I  do  say, 
that  the  same  Lord  Jesus  Christ  which  the  Scriptures  tes- 
tify of,  I  believe  in,  and  expect  salvation  by,  and  in  no 


154         ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 

other;  that  is  to  say,  the  Christ  of  God,  that  was  born  of 
the  Virgin  Mary,  and  was  crucified  by  the  high  priests  and 
envious  ones,  and  was  raised  by  the  power  of  God,  and 
ascended  far  above  all  heavens,  and  is  at  the  right  hand 
of  God;  and  is  also  knocking  at  every  one's  door,  for  an 
entrance  into  their  hearts,  that  he  might  dwell  in  and 
amongst  them." — P.  4,  5. 

"  I  say  again  the  same  Jesus  in  whose  name  the  lame 
man  was  made  whole,  that  Peter  and  John  bare  testimony 
to,  before  them  that  crucified  him,  '  in  the  name  of  Jesus 
Christ  of  Nazareth  doth  this  man  stand  before  you  w^hole 
this  day ;'  this  is  the  stone  that  is  set  at  naught  by  you 
builders,  and  is  now  become  the  head  of  the  corner :  I 
say,  in  this  Christ,  I  with  the  rest  of  my  brethren  believe, 
and  hope  for  salvation,  and  in  no  other  name  or  thing 
whatsoever."— P.  5.  1676. 


HARTFORD  QUAKERS. 

A  pamphlet,  entitled  "  A  Testimony  for  the  Man  Christ 
Jesus,  <&;c.  from  the  people  called  Quakers  at  Hartford," 
printed  in  the  year  1676,  contains  the  following  observa- 
tions : — 

"  Whereas  we  have  always  believed  and  owned  the 
Man  Christ  Jesus,  according  to  the  plain  history  of  him 
in  Holy  Scripture,  as  well  .as  in  the  mystery,  as  namely. 
That  he  was  miraculously  conceived  by  the  Holy  Ghost 
overshadowing  the  Virgin  Mary,  that  he  lived  an  innocent 
and  sinless  life,  preached  powerfully,  wrought  miracles, 
was  crucified  and  put  to  death  as  concerning  the  flesh, 
buried,  and  rose  again  the  third  day,  according  to  the 
Scriptures,  and  was  seen  of  his  disciples  and  many  brethren 
after  he  arose,  see  1  Cor.  xv.  3 — 6. ;  and  that  the  same  body 
that  was  put  to  death  was  raised  by  the  power  of  God  : 
And  this  was  not  only  an  appearance  or  spectrum  in  the 
shape  of  a  man,  as  W.  H.  saiih  some  have  held,  nor  yet  a 
mere  phantastical  body  or  apparition,  but  a  real  body, 
really  seen  both  before  and  after  his  resurrection,  and  at 
his  ascension  also  ;  while  he  blessed  them  he  was  parted 
from  them  and  carried  up  into  heaven.  Luke  xxiv.  50,  51. 
And  while  they  beheld  he  was  taken  up,  and  a  cloud  re- 
ceived him  out  of  their  sight.  Acts,  i.9, 10.    So  we  confess 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.        1 55 


the  same  Man  Christ,  not  only  to  be  still  in  being,  but  also 
glorified,  and  his  body  to  be  a  glorious,  heavenly,  and 
spiritual  body.  And  as  to  his  being  man,  we  have  one 
Mediator  between  God  and  men  even  the  Man  Christ  Jesus. 
1  Tim.  ii.  5.  And  God  will  judge  the  world  in  righteous- 
ness by  that  man  whom  he  hath  ordained,  whom  he  hath 
raised  from  the  dead.  Acts  xvii.  31.  Again,  this  Man, 
after  he  had  offered  up  one  sacrifice  for  sins,  for  ever  sat 
down  on  the  right  hand  of  God.  Heb.  x.  12.  And  since 
by  man  came  death,  by  Man  also  came  the  resurrection 
of  the  dead — the  first  man  is  of  the  earth,  earthly  ;  the 
second  Man  is  the  Lord  from  heaven.  So  that  this  Man 
Christ  did  neither  vanish  nor  perish  in  any  thing  essential 
to  him,  either  as  to  his  soul,  spirit,  or  body,  but  is  highly 
exalted  and  glorified,  being  made  higher  than  the  heavens, 
Heb.  vii.  26.  being  sate  down  on  the  riii;ht  hand  of  the 
Majesty  on  high,  Heb.  i.  3.  who  is  set  on  the  right  hand  of 
the  throne  of  the  Majesty  in  the  heavens.  And  Jesus  said, 
Ye  shall  see  the  Son  of  Man  sitting  on  the  right  hand  of 
power,  that  is,  the  power  of  God,  and  coming  in  the  clouds 

of  heaven.  Mark  xiv.  62.  Luke  xxii.  69." — Pages  7,  8.  

1676. 

Again.  "  If  his  being  ascended  into  heaven,  hinders 
him  from  being  on  earth,  why  not  his  ascending  far  above 
all  heavens,  from  being  in  heaven  ?  But  in  the  very  same 
place  before  quoted,  John  xiv.  2,  3.  the  same  Man  Christ 
that  said,  1  go  to  prepare  a  place  for  you,  said  also.  If  I 
go  and  prepare  a  place  for  you,  I  will  come  again  and 
receive  you  unto  myself,  that  where  I  am,  there  ye  may  be 
also;  and  V.  18.  I  will  not  leave  you  comfortless,  1  will 
come  to  you  :  Yet  a  little  while,  and  the  world  seeth  me 
no  more  ;  but  ye  see  me  ;  because  1  five,  ye  shall  live 
also.  At  that  day  ye  shall  know  that  1  am  in  my  Father, 
and  ye  in  me,  and  1  in  you.  And  was  not  this  the  Man 
Christ  Jesus  that  spake  these  things,  who  also  said.  No 
man  hath  ascended  up  to  heaven  but  He  which  came 
down  from  heaven,  even  the  Son  of  man  which  is  in  heaven? 
John  iii.  13.  Now  if  it  be  said,  that  the  Son  of  man  was 
spiritually  in  heaven  when  on  earth,  then  may  it  not  as 
well  be  said,  that  the  Son  of  man  is  spiritually  on  earth  in 
his  saints,  when  in  heaven,  seeing  all  power  in  heaven  and 
in  earth  is  given  to  the  Son?  And  the  Father  hath  given 
him  power  over  all  flesh,  that  he  should  give  eternal  life 
to  as  many  as  the  Father  hath  given  him,  John  xvii.  2. 


166        ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


He  is  ascended  far  above  all  heavens,  that  he  might  fill  all 
things,  Eph.  iv.  10.  And  what  place  went  he  to  prepare 
for  his,  but  such  a  place  in  and  with  himself,  as  that  where 
He  is,  they  might  be  also,  John  xiv.  3.  where  the  saints 
were  made  to  sit  together  in  the  heavenly  places  in  Christ 
Jesus?  And  our  conversation  is  in  heaven,  from  whence 
also  we  look  for  a  Saviour,  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  Phil, 
iii.  20.  And  of  his  coming  again,  the  apostles  had  signal 
evidences,  who  by  Him  wrought  miracles,  even  by  him 
whom  the  nien  of  Israel  delivered  up,  and  denied  in  the 
presence  of  Pilate;  by  this  holy  One,  this  Prince  of  life, 
whom  God  raised  from  the  dead,  were  the  lame  healed, 
Acts  iii,  11.  16.  iv.  10.  By  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ  of 
Nazareth,  whom  ye  crucified,  whom  God  raised  from  the 
dead,  even  by  Him  doth  this  man  stand  before  you  whole; 
and  V.  30.  That  signs  and  wonders  may  be  done  by  the 
name  of  thy  hojy  child  Jesus,  whom  thou  hast  anointed,  17. 
This  Jesus  hath  God  raised  up,  whereof  we  are  all  wit- 
nesses. Acts  ii.  32.  Therefore  being  by  the  right  hand  of 
God  exalted,  and  having  received  of  the  Father,  the 
promise  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  he  hath  shed  forth  this  which 
ye  novv  see  and  hear,  v.  33.  Acts  v.  32.  Him  hath  God 
exalted  with  his  right  hand,  to  be  a  Prince  and  a  Saviour, 
for  to  give  repentance  to  Israel,  and  forgiveness  of  sins. 
God  having  raised  up  his  Son  Jesus,  sent  him  to  bless  you 
in  turning  away  every  one  of  you  from  his  iniquities. — 
P.  9,  10. 

Shortly  after  the  pamphlet  was  issued,  from  which  the 
foregoing  extracts  are  taken,  a  second  essay  was  pub- 
lished, entitled  "  The  Testimony  of  the  Hartford  Quakers 
for  the  Man  Christ  Jesus  vindicated,  fcc."  signed  by  Rich- 
ard Thomas,  Edward  Plumstead,  jr.  H.  Sweeting,  Abra- 
ham Rutt,  Richard  Martin,  and  H.  Stout.  From  this 
essay  I  take  the  subsequent  quotations : 

"Since  we  have  in  our  late  testimony  to  the  Man, Christ 
Jesus,  in  the  fear,  sight,  and  presence  of  Almighty  God, 
seriously  confessed  unto  the  very  Christ,  the  Son  of  God, 
both  with  respect  to  his  miraculous  conception  by  the 
Holy  Ghost,  his  being  born  of  the  virgin  Mary,  his  life, 
sufferings,  death,  resurrection,  ascension  into  glory,  his 
coming  again  in  Spirit  and  in  the  power  of  his  Father, 
&;c.  according  to  the  plain  testimonies  given  of  him  in  the 
four  holy  evangelists,  Matthew,  Mark,  Luke,  and  John,  the 
Acts  of  the  Apostles,  &c.,  W.  H.,  in  the  pride  and  malice 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OP  JESUS  CHRIST. 


157 


of  his  heart,  has  endeavoured  to  invalidate  our  profession," 
&€.— P.  3. 

Again.  "  We  have  nakedly  confessed  Jesus  Christ,  the 
Son  of  God,  as  having  all  power  in  heaven  and  earth,  to 
be  both  God  and  man  ;  he  is  that  Immanuel,  God  with  us  : 
And  hath  not  he  power,  as  such,  to  breathe  upon  and 
inspire  his  saints,  and  to  give  light  and  life  to  mankind, 
without  any  Lessening  or  limitation  to  his  own  being  as 
Jesus  Christ  the  Son  of  God  ?  It  is  the  Spirit  of  the  Son 
wherein  we  receive  of  his  life,  virtue,  and  power;  and  it 
is  only  in  and  through  the  Mediator,  that  man  is  capable 
of  receiving  the  knowledge  of  God ;  for  God,  who  com- 
manded the  hght  to  shine  out  of  darkness,  hath  shined  in 
our  hearts,  to  give  the  light  of  the  knowledge  of  the  glory 
of  God  in  the  face  of  Jesus  Christ,  2  Cor.  iv.  6." — P.  21. 

Again.  "  Moreover,  we  do  both  firmly  believe  that  the 
worlds  were  made  by  the  Son  of  God,  and  that  by  him  all 
things  consist,  he  being  that  Word  that  was  with  God,  and 
that  was  God,  in  the  beginning :  and  that  this  Son  of  God 
was  the  First-born  of  every  creature,  and  the  First-begotten 
of  the  dead.  And  since  by  man  came  death,  by  Man  came 
also  the  resurrection  of  the  dead.  And  also,  we  do  as 
really  confess  according  to  holy  Scripture,  that  this  Son 
of  God,  in  due  time,  took  upon  him  a  real  body  prepared 
for  him,  of  the  same  flesh  and  blood  which  the  children 
had,  Heb.  ii.  14.  was  made  of  the  seed  of  David  accord- 
ing to  the  flesh,  and  declared  to  be  the  Son  of  God  with 
power,  according  to  the  Spirit  of  holiness,  by  the  resur- 
rection from  the  dead,  Rom.  i.  3,  4.  That  this  Christ,  the 
Son  of  God,  took  upon  him  the  form  of  a  servant,  and  was 
made  in  the  likeness  or  habit  of  men,  and  being  found  in 
fashion  as  a  man,  he  humbled  himself,  and  became  obe- 
dient unto  death,  even  the  death  of  the  cross,  wherefore 

God  hath  highly  exalted  him,  &c.  Phil.  ii.  8." — P.  33  

1676. 


WILLIAM  GIBSON. 

In  the  year  1677,  this  Friend  wrote  a  tract,  entitled 
"  The  Life  of  God,  which  is  the  Light  and  Salvation  of 
men,  exalted,  ^c."  in  which  he  vindicates  the  Society  of 
14 


158 


ON  THE  DIVINrrY  AND  OFFICES  OP  JESUS  CHRIST. 


Friends  from  many  slanderous  charges  made  against  it  by 
one  John  Cheyney.  To  the  assertion  that  the  Quaker's 
doctrine  of  the  sufficiency  of  the  light  and  grace  of  God  for 
salvation,  makes  the  coming  of  Jesus  Christ  into  the  world 
vain,  he  says — 

"  And,  J.  C,  it  is  great  ungodliness  in  thee  to  say,  that 
from  this,  our  before  cited  doctrine  and  testimony,  it  will 
follow  that  Christ  came  into  the  world  in  vain  ;  for  we  say 
the  coming  of  Christ  into  the  world  was  and  is  of  great 
value  and  worth,  and  is  of  high  value  and  esteem  with  us  :  ♦ 
We  say  he  came  into  the  world  to  save  sinners  from  their 
sin;  He  offered  up  himself,  through  the  eternal  Spirit,  as 
an  acceptable  sacrifice  unto  God,  as  a  Lamb  without  spot 
and  blemish :  He  was  and  is  the  Lamb  of  God,  who  takes 
away  the  sins  of  all  that  believe  and  obey  him :  He  is  the 
one  offering  who  hath  ended  the  Jews'  many  shadowy  of- 
ferings :  He  baptizeth  with  his  Holy  Spirit,  life,  and  power 
all  that  believe  and.  walk  therein  ;  in  such,  he  fulfils  what 
John  the  Baptist  testified  of  him,  viz.  he  baptizeth  them 
with  his  holy  life,  and  Spirit,  which  is  as  fire  to  burn  up 
the  devil's  works  in  man,  which  is  sin,  and  so  casts  him 
out  who  is  the  author  of  them." — P.  21. 

On  page  131,  in  reply  to  the  false  charge  that  the  Qua- 
kers said  they  were  Christ,  he  remarks  : — 

"  We  never  said  we  were  Christ.  We  own  no  Christ 
but  one,  the  Son  of  God,  from  everlasting  to  everlasting, 
who  was  manifest  in  flesh  in  the  fulness  of  time,  who 
was  born  of  the  virgin,  and  went  up  and  down  doing  good, 
preached  righteousness,  wrought  miracles,  and  according 
to  the  flesh  died,  and  was  laid  in  the  sepulchre,  rose  again 
the  third  day,  and  ascended,  according  to  the  Scriptures." 
 1677. 


WILLIAM  SHEWEN. 

From  an  essay,  entitled  "  The  true  Christian's  Faith 
and  Experience,  &c."  the  following  is  extracted,  viz. — 

"  The  true  Christian  believes  in  one  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
who  came  from  the  bosom  of  the  Father,  who  is  the  Son 
of  the  true  God,  by  whom  he  made  the  world :  and  that 
this  Lord  Jesus  Christ  is  his  Saviour,  Redeemer,  Sanctifier, 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


159 


and  Cleanser,  by  his  precious  blood,  and  is  to  him  a  King, 
Priest,  and  Prophet.  And  he  demonstrateth  his  faith  in 
this  manner — in  being  obedient  to  him  as  he  is  Lord  ;  in 
being  saved  by  him  from  sin,  as  he  is  Jesus  ;  and  by  his 
learning  of  him  and  being  taught  by  him,  as  he  is  Christ  or 
the  Anointing."— P.  7.  1679. 


ELIZABETH  BATHURST. 

In  a  defence  of  the  Society  of  Friends  from  various  as- 
persions cast  upon  them  by  their  opposers,  published  in 
the  year  1679,  I  find  the  following  remarks,  viz. — 

"  A  second  charge  which  I  have  heard  brought  in  against 
the  Quakers  is,  that  they  deny  the  humanity  of  Christ 
Jesus,  and  the  obedience  that  he  yielded  in  the  days  of 
his  flesh,  by  his  sufferings,  death,  burial,  resurrection  from 
the  dead,  together  with  all  the  benefits  that  thereby  accrue 
unto  believers,  as  also  justification  by  faith  and  the  im- 
puted righteousness  of  Christ.  Now  that  this  has  been  as 
falsely  charged  upon  them  as  the  former  [accusation],  I 
shall  undertake  to  prove  by  Scripture." — P.  1 2. 

"  First.  Therefore,  to  clear  truth  from  slander,  both  on 
the  one  hand  and  on  the  other,  I  do  in  the  first  place  aftirm, 
and  that  upon  certain  grounds,  that  all  who  may  be  rightly 
denominated  Quakers,  such  as  tremble  at  the  word  of  God, 
they  are  of  the  faith  of  one  substance  which  the  ancient 
Christians  so  earnestly  contended  for,  and  suffered  such 
hard  things  in  maintaining,  viz.  that  Christ,  the  blessed 
Son  of  God,  (as  to  his  divinity,)  was  of  the  same  eternal 
substance  with  the  Father." 

"Secondly.  1  affirm,  they  faithfully  own  the  Scriptures, 
and  therefore,  what  John  the  Divine  saw  in  his  revelations 
concerning  Him,  as  'tis  recorded  chap.  xii.  8.  That  he, 
viz.  Christ,  was  the  Lamb  slain  from  the  foundation  of  the 
world  :  And  what  the  apostle  said  of  him,  Phil.  ii.  6.  Who, 
being  in  the  form  God,  thought  it  no  robbery  to  be  equal 
with  God;  likewise  John  the  evangelist  in  his  first  chap- 
ter, saith  concerning  Christ,  In  the  beginning  was  the 
Word,  and  the  Word  was  with  God,  and  the  Word  was 
God  ;  the  same  was  in  the  beginning  with  God  ;  all  things 


160        ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OP  JESUS  CHRIST. 

were  made  by  him,  and  without  him  was  not  any  thing 
made  that  was  made ;  for  by  him  were  all  things  created 
that  are  in  heaven  and  that  are  in  earth,  visible  and  invisi- 
ble, whether  they  be  thrones,  or  dominions,  principalities, 
or  powers,  all  things  were  created  by  him  and  for  him; 
who  is  over  all,  God  blessed  for  ever.  Amen.  Col.  i.  16. 
Rom.  ix.  5.  These,  together  with  the  testimonies  Jesus 
gave  of  himself,  John  viii.  58.  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you, 
before  Abraham  was,  I  am :  x.  30.  I  and  my  Father  are 
one:  xvii.  5.  there  he  prays.  And  now,  O  Father,  glorify 
thou  me  with  thy  own  self,  and  with  the  glory  which  I  had 
with  thee  before  the  world  was. 

"  In  like  manner  he  speaks  of  his  own  eternity.  Proverbs 
c.  viii.  from  verse  23  to  the  end  ;  to  which  agrees  that  ap- 
plication [appellation]  given  to  him  of  Wonderful,  Coun- 
sellor, the  Mighty  God,  the  Everlasting  Father,  the  Prince 
of  Peace,  Isa.  ix.  6.  These  things,  I  say,  the  Quakers  be- 
lieving, according  as  they  are  written,  and  having  an  expe- 
rience of  in  themselves,  by  the  effectual  working  of  the 
mighty  power  of  Christ  Jesus  in  their  hearts,  are  sufficient 
proofs  to  them  of  his  divine  substance,  and  also  to  make 
them  see,  what  is  the  fellowship  of  the  mystery  which  from 
the  beginning  of  the  world  hath  been  hid  in  God,  who 
created  all  things  by  Jesus  Christ,  as  'tis  written,  Ephes. 
iii.  9.  Wherefore  they  know  the  Son  to  be  one  and  equal 
in  power  with  the  Father. 

"  Now  if  any  shall  object  that  Scripture  where  Christ 
saith,  *My  Father  is  greater  than  1,' 

"Ans.  That  must  needs  be  understood  only  as  he  as- 
sumed the  name  of  man,  not  at  all  relating  to  the  fulness 
of  the  Godhead  that  dwelleth  bodily  in  him,  as  'tis  written, 
Col.  ii.  9.  So  likewise  the  author  to  the  Hebrews  describes 
him,  c.  i.  V.  2.  to  be  the  brightness  of  the  Father's  glory 
and  the  express  image  or  character  of  his  substance,  (for 
so  the  word  person  ought  to  be  rendered,)  by  whom  also 
he  made  the  worlds.  And  therefore  I  believe,  and  so  do 
they  in  whose  behalf  I  write,  that  Jesus  Christ  is  very  God. 

"  Third,  1  affirm  they  do  believe  that  this  Jesus,  or  this 
God,  was  manifest  in  the  flesh,  as  saith  the  apostle,  1  Tim. 
iii.  16.  and  John  the  Evangelist,  c.  i.  14.  The  Word  was 
made  flesh  and  dwelt  amongst  us,  and  we  beheld  his  glory, 
the  glory  of  the  only  begotten  of  the  Father,  full  of  grace 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OP  JESUS  CHRKT.         1 6  1 

and  truth.  And  Paul  to  the  Hebrews,  c.  ii.  IG.  speaking 
of  Christ,  saith,  for  verily  he  took  not  on  him  the  nature  of 
angels,  but  he  took  on  him  the  seed  of  Abraham. 

"  Fourth.  Therefore,  in  the  fourth  place,  I  affirm,  the 
Quakers  do  faithfully  own  this  Jesus  to  be  the  Mediator, 
according  to  the  testimony  of  the  apostle,  1  Tim.  ii.  5,  6. 
for  there  is  one  God  and  one  Mediator  between  God  and 
man,  the  Man  Christ  Jesus,  who  gave  himself  a  ransom  for 
all,  to  be  testified  in  due  time. 

"  Fifth.  1  affirm  they  own  his  obedience  also ;  for  I  know 
they  do  believe,  that  Christ  Jesus,  in  the  days  of  his  flesh, 
was  obedient  to  God  as  becometh  a  Son  unto  a  Father  in 
all  things.  For  he  came  not  to  do  his  own  will,  but  the 
will  of  him  that  sent  him  ;  wherefore  we  find  him  praying 
to  his  Father,  Not  my  will  but  thine  be  done  :  Yea,  more- 
over, 'tis  written  of  him,  Heb.  v.  8.  Though  he  were  a 
Son,  yet  learned  he  obedience  by  the  things  which  he  suf- 
fered :  for  he  was  a  man  of  sorrows  and  acquainted  w^ith 
grief:  he  was  wounded  for  our  transgressions,  he  was  bruised 
for  our  iniquities,  the  chastisement  of  our  peace  was  upon 
him,  and  with  his  stripes  we  are  healed,  as  saith  the  pro- 
phet Isaiah  c.  liii.  3.  Therefore  these  do  confess  to  his  suf- 
ferings according  to  the  Scriptures  ;  for  Christ  also  hath 
once  suffered  for  sin,  the  just  for  the  unjust,  that  he  might 
bring  us  to  God,  being  put  to  death  in  the  flesh  but  quicks 
ened  by  the  Spirit,  1  Pet.  iii.  18.  Likewise  they  own  his 
death  as  an  acceptable  and  most  satisfactory  sacrifice  to 
God  for  the  sins  of  all,  and  is  of  blessed  advantage  to  all, 
that  shall  receive  faith  in  his  blood ;  which  agrees  to  Rom. 
iii.  25.  Ephes.  v.  2.  Whom  God  hath  set  forth  to  be  a  pro- 
pitiation through  faith  in  his  blood,  to  declare  his  righte- 
ousness for  the  remission  of  sins  that  are  past,  through  the 
forbearance  of  God  :  and  he  hath  given  himself  for  us,  an 
offering  and  a  sacrifice  to  God  for  a  sweet  smelling  savour. 
Also  they  believe,  that  as  Christ  died  for  our  sins,  so  he 
was  buried  likewise,  and  rose  again,  according  to  the 
Scriptures,  1  Cor.  xv.  4,  &c.  Again,  v.  20,  21.  'tis  said. 
But  now  is  Christ  risen  from  the  dead,  and  become  the 
first  fruits  of  them  that  sleep :  For  since  by  man  came 
death,  by  Man  came  also  the  resurrection  of  the  dead :  So 
in  Acts  xvii.  31.  the  apostle  mentions  this  as  the  assurance 
which  God  gave  to  men  of  his  judging  the  world  at  the 


14* 


162        ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


great  day,  by  his  Son  Christ  Jesus,  viz.  his  having  raised 
him  from  the  dead." — P,  13  to  20.  1679. 


THOMAS  LAYTHES, 

In  a  tract  entitled  "  The  Inward  and  Spiritual  Christian 
distinguished,  &c."  says — 

"  And  blessed  be  the  God  of  heaven  that  hath  raised  up 
A  seed  in  our  day,  that  cannot  bow  or  bend  to  any  thing 
but  to  the  name  of  Jesus  only,  to  vvhich  let  every  knee 
bow,  and  every  tongue  confess,  v^ho  is  the  Rock  of  ages, 
and  the  Foundation  of  all  the  generations  of  the  righteous 
in  all  ages ;  to  whom  with  God  the  Father,  be  glory  and 

honour,  both  now  and  for  evermore.    Amen." — P.  6.  

1683. 


SAMUEL  WATSON, 

In  a  work,  entitled  "  A  Mirror  to  distinguish  the  true 
Ministers  of  the  Gospel  from  the  false,  &c."  says — 

"  And  the  preaching  of  this  Jesus,  powerful  Shepherd 
and  Bishop  of  our  souls,  was  in  the  heavenly  authority  of 
his  Father,  in  which  he  spoke  forth  all  things  appertaining 
to  life  and  salvation,  and  are  left  upon  record  by  those  who 
were  witnesses  of  his  coming ;  in  a  most  special  manner, 
by  Matthew,  Mark,  Luke,  and  John,  who  were  witnesses 
with  many  more  of  his  doctrine,  life,  and  suffering,  which 
[who]  laid  down  his  life  for  his  sheep,  as  'tis  written,  they 
stripped  him  and  put  on  him  a  scarlet  robe,  and  when  they 
had  platted  a  crown  of  thorns,  they  put  it  on  his  head, 
nailing  him  to  the  cross,  spitting  upon  him  and  mocking 
him,  saying,  hail.  King  of  the  Jews,  though  he  had  done 
nothing  worthy  of  death ;  yet  the  hard  hearted,  who  re- 
jected the  corner  stone,  said,  we  have  a  law,  and  by  our 
Jaw  this  man  must  die.  So  refusing  the  just  One,  and  the 
Saviour  of  the  world,  they  chose  Barabbas  to  live.  This 
cruelty  acted  itself  in  a  guileful  spirit,  to  destroy  him  in 
whom  was  found  no  guile,  neither  ever  was  it  in  his  mouth. 
This  is  he  who  suffered  under  Pontius  Pilate,  was  cruci- 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.  163 

fied,  dead,  and  buried,  and  the  third  day  rose  again,  who 
ascended  and  sitteth  at  the  right  hand  of  God  the  Father, 
from  whence,  by  his  own  power,  he  comes  to  judge  both 
the  quick  and  the  dead.  This  is  he  in  whom  I  believe, 
and  [who]  is  my  Saviour,  in  and  through  whose  precious 
blood  is  my  salvation  and  redemption,  and  not  in  another, 
(which  thousands  with  me  are  witnesses  of,)  whose  blessed 
promise  we  believe  in,  and  in  measure  [are]  made  par- 
takers of,  that  he  would  send  the  Comforter,  the  Spirit  of 
truth,  whom  the  world  could  not  receive  because  they 
knew  him  not :  he  shall  bring  all  things  to  remembrance, 
and  shall  lead  and  guide  into  all  truth  :  And  he  that  is  with 
you,  shall  be  with  you  to  the  end  of  the  world.  This  is  the 
blessed  Saviour,  whose  appearance  is  in  spirit,  as  the 
apostle  testifies  of  his  second  appearance  without  sin  to 
salvation,  which  cannot  be  known  but  by  his  spiritual 
woik  in  the  inner  man,  whose  appearance  and  manifesta- 
tion is  to  destroy  the  works  of  the  devil,  which  is  sin,  un- 
belief, and  all  unrighteousness  whatsoever,  that  he  alone 
may  rule  and  reign  in  man  and  woman,  who  brings  salva- 
tion to  their  house."" — Christianity  Revived,  page  24.  

1683. 


CLEMENT  LAKE. 

This  valuable  Friend  received  a  letter  from  a  certain 
John  Flavell,  exhibiting  many  high  charges  against  the  So- 
ciety, which  he  believed  it  his  duty  to  refute.  The  follow- 
ing extracts  are  taken  from  his  reply : — 

"  I  believe  that  Christ  is  glorified  with  the  Father,  with 
the  same  glory  he  had  before  the  world  was,  according  to 
John  xvii.  5.  and  1  Tim.  iii.  16.  He  is  received  up  to 
glory,  and  that  he  shall  come  again  in  the  glory  of  his 
Father,  with  his  angels,  Matt.  xvi.  27.  And  that  he  is  sit- 
ting on  the  right  hand  of  power,  Mark  xiv.  62.  And  that 
he  ascended  up  far  above  all  heavens,  and  that  he  is  gone 
into  heaven,  and  is  on  the  right  hand  of  God,  and  that  it  is 
a  glorious  body,  Phil.  iii.  21." 

To  the  charge  that  "  they  [the  Quakers]  deny  the  satis- 
faction of  the  blood  of  Christ,"  he  says — 

"  This  is  a  false,  lying,  slanderous  charge  ;  charge  it  who 


164        ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 

will.  For  my  part,  according  to  what  1  have  heard  an4 
seen  since  acquainted  with  them,  of  all  the  sorts  of  profes- 
sors that  I  have  been  conversant  with,  I  have  not  known 
any  to  have  a  greater  esteem  for,  and  put  a  greater  value 
on,  the  blood  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  than  those  do  who 
are  thus  charged  ;  and  indeed  it  is  no  wonder  that  they 
thus  value  it,  seeing  a  remnant  have  experienced  such 
inexpressible  virtue  from  it  and  benefit  by  it. 

"  As  for  my  part,  1  believe  salvation  in  no  other ;  and 
out  of  him,  there  is  none  ;  and  I  believe  and  know  it  is 
the  faith  of  those  with  whom  I  walk,  according  to  Acts  iv. 
12.  And  he  is  the  propitiation  for  our  sins,  1  John  ii.  2. 
And  he  hath  purchased  us  with  his  own  blood,  Acts  xx.  28. 
and  Rom.  iii.  25.  and  by  him  we  have  remission  of  sin,  and 
we  are  justified  by  his  blood,  Rom.  v.  9.  and  by  it  we  have 
eternal  redemption,  Heb.  ix.  12.  1  Pet.  i.  2.  And  if  we 
walk  in  the  light  as  He  is  in  the  light,  we  have  fellowship 
one  with  another,  and  the  blood  of  Christ  cleanseth  us  from 
all  sin.  And  what  the  difference  is  between  the  walking 
in  the  light,  that  is  so  much  derided,  and  walking  in  Christ, 
I  know  not;  but  if  we  walk  in  him,  the  blood  of  Jesus 
Christ  will  cleanse  us  from  all  sin,  John  vii.  9.  and  I  believe 
not  only  from  the  guilt,  but  from  the  filth  also,  v.  9.  and  I 
believe  that  sanctification  and  justification  are  insepara- 
ble."—P.  10,  n.  1687. 


JOHN  BURNYEAT  AND  JOHN  WATSON. 

These  two  Friends  published  an  essay,  in  the  year  1688, 
defending  the  Society  of  Friends  from  several  charges 
alleged  against  them  by  their  enemies  ;  in  which  they 
write  thus,  viz. — 

"  And  as  for  our  faith  and  principles,  they  have  been 
published  to  the  world  both  by  words  and  writing ;  they 
have  not  been  hid  in  a  corner  ;  so  that  any  that  had  a 
mind  to  concern  themselves  against  us,  and  yet  as  wise 
men,  would  not  judge  without  an  understanding,  lest  like 
thee,  they  should  speak  evil  of  the  things  they  did  not 
understand,  might  easily  be  informed  what  our  principles 
are.  However,  we  are  a  people  that  believe  in  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ ;  and  that  the  Father  sent  him  into  the  world, 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHBIST.  165 


to  lay  down  his  life  a  ransom  for  all  men  ;  that  whosoever 
believeth  in  him  shall  not  perish,  but  have  eternal  hfe: 
that  he  was  crucified  without  the  gates  of  Jerusalem,  and 
so  became  a  propitiation  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world  : 
and  that  after  he  had  suffered,  and  was  buried,  God  the 
Father  raised  him  again  bj  his  eternal  Spirit,  after  which 
he  showed  himself  unto  many  witnesses,  and  then  ascended 
into  heaven,  and  is  glorified  with  the  Father,  with  that 
glory  he  had  with  him  before  the  world  was  made. 

"  And  we  further  believe,  that  he  is  the  Light  of  the 
world,  and  that  he  ought  to  be  followed  according  to  his 
own  words,  John  viii.  1 2.  and  that  he  lighteth  every  man 
that  Cometh  into  the  world,  according  to  John  i.  9.  and 
that  this  light,  wherewith  he  lighteth  every  man,  all  ought 
to  believe  in,  that  they  may  be  children  of  the  light, 
according  to  John  xii.  36.  And  so  we  believe  in  his  spi- 
ritual appearance,  according  to  his  promise  who  said,  He 
would  pray  the  Father,  and  he  should  send  them  another 
Comforter,  even  the  Spirit  of  truth,  according  to  John  xiv. 
16,  17.  and  this  was  his  own  Spirit,  for  he  is  the  Truth  ; 
and  of  this  the  saints  were  witnesses,  as  the  apostle  saith, 
Gal.  iv.  6.  And  because  ye  are  sons,  God  hath  sent  forth 
the  Spirit  of  his  Son  into  your  hearts,  crying,  Abba,  Father. 
And  thus  was  Christ,  in  the  saints,  the  hope  of  glory,  accord- 
ing to  Colos.  i.  7.  And  thus  believing  and  witnessing  the 
truth  of  the  Scripture,  we  wait  upon  God  for  his  Spirit, 
that  we  may  worship  him  therein,  according  to  the  institu- 
tion of  his  Son,  Christ  Jesus,  as  in  John  iv.  23,  24.  and  that 
we  may  pray  with  the  spirit,  and  sing  with  it,  according  to 
1  Cor.  xiv.  1 5.  For  the  apostle  exhorted  the  saints  to  be 
filled  with  the  Spirit,  Eph.  v.  1 8.  And  the  saints  were  to 
pray  in  the  Holy  Ghost,  Jude  20.  So  our  faith  stands  in 
the  power  of  God,  which  is  that,  the  apostle  laboured  that 
the  saints'  faith  might  stand  in,  as  thou  mayest  see,  1  Cor. 
ii.  5.  Believing  that  there  shall  be  a  resurrection,  both  of 
the  just  and  unjust,  they  that  have  done  good  unto  the  re- 
surrection of  life,  and  they  that  have  done  evil,  unto  the 
resurrection  of  damnation,  according  to  John  v,  29," — 
Pages  251,  252.  1688. 


166     ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST, 


WILLIAM  CHANDLER,  ALEXANDER  PYOTT,  JOSEPH 
HOPGES,  AND  OTHERS. 

In  the  year  1693,  these  Friends  wrote  a  treatise,  enti- 
tled "  A  brief  Apology  in  behalf  of  the  people  in  derision 
called  Quakers,"  &c.  from  which  I  copy  the  following  pass- 
ages : — 

"  And  as  do  ye,  so  do  we  also  hope  for  and  expect  sal« 
ration  only  and  alone  through  the  Son  of  God,  our  blessed 
Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ  of  Nazareth :  believing 
that  God  the  Father  hath  ordained  him  for  salvation  to 
the  ends  of  the  earth,  and  that  no  other  name  is  given 
under  heaven,  by  which  men  shall  be  saved  :  Who  being 
conceived  by  the  Holy  Ghost  in  the  womb  of  the  Virgin 
Mary,  was  born  of  her  at  Bethlehem  ;  as  also  his  holy 
and  exemplary  life,  perfectly  free  from  sin,  his  doctrine, 
miracles,  sufferings  and  death  upon  the  cross  without  the 
gates  of  Jerusalem ;  his  resurrection  from  the  dead,  and 
ascension  into  heaven,  where  he  is  at  the  right  hand  of 
God  the  Father,  perfect  God  and  perfect  man  ;  and  the 
alone  Mediator  between  God  and  man,  and  is  our  Advo- 
cate with  the  Father,  and  ever  liveth  to  make  intercession 
for  us,  and  also  shall  judge  both  quick  and  dead.  All 
which,  and  whatsoever  else  is  recorded  of  him  in  the  sa- 
cred Scriptures,  we  firmly  believe. 

"  This  Jesus,  in  whom  dwelt  the  fulness  of  the  God- 
head, we  believe  offered  up  himself  according  to  the  will 
of  the  Father,  an  acceptable  sacrifice  to  God,  and  became 
a  propitiation  for  the  sins  of  mankind  to  the  end  of  the 
world,  and  died  for  all  men,  as  all  died  in  Adam  ;  through 
whose  blood,  God  proclaims  redemption  and  salvation  to 
man,  and  offers  to  be  reconciled,  and  freely  for  his  Son's 
sake,  to  remit,  forgive,  and  pass  by,  all  past  offences,  to  as 
many  as  shall  truly  and  heartily  repent  of  their  sins,  and 
turn  from  the  same,  and  shall  so  believe  in  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  and  love  him,  as  for  the  future. to  live  a  holy,  cir- 
cumspect. Christian  hfe,  and  obey  his  commands,  thereby 
continuing  in  his  love." — P.  8,9. 

After  speaking  largely  on  the  benefits  and  blessings  re- 
sulting to  mankind  by  the  gift  of  divine  grace  in  and 
through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  they  further  say — 

"  Consider  seriously  these  things  which  are  agreeable 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESrS  CHRIST.  167 

to  Scripture,  and  with  what  reason  people  have  derided  us 
for  our  behef  herein,  terming  it  the  Quaker's  Christ ;  as 
though  his  manifesting  himself  in  our  hearts,  were  another, 
or  distinct  from  Jesus  Christ  of  Nazareth,  that  is  glorified 
with  God  the  Father  in  Heaven,  which  we  deny.  For 
though  he  be  ascended  into  heaven,  and  sits  at  the  right 
hand  of  God,  far  above  all  principalities  and  powers,  yet 
is  not  he  so  circumscribed,  but  that,  as  by  him  all  things 
were  made  and  created,  so  he  is  the  Life  and  Fulness,  and 
filleth  all  in  all  in  his  church  and  people.  Is  the  divinity  and 
humanity  of  Christ  divided  ?  Is  not  there  inseparable  union 
in  the  true  and  entire  Christ  ?  Can  then  his  Godhead  be 
present,  and  He,  who  is  the  heavenly  man,  be  absent  ? 
What  think  you  of  him  that  appeared  to  John,  and  gave 
him  his  commission  to  the  seven  churches  ?  Whom  he 
describes.  Rev.  c.  i.  who  said.  Behold,  I  stand  at  the  door 
and  knock ;  if  any  man  hear  my  voice  and  open  the  door, 
I  will  come  in  to  him,  and  will  sup  with  him,  and  he  with 
me.  The  same  saith,  1  am  he  which  searches  the  reins 
and  heart,  and  I  will  give  unto  every  one  of  you  according 
to  your  work.  Was  not  this  the  true  Christ,  the  Mediator, 
by  whom  God  will  judge  the  world  ?  And  can  he  make 
this  near  inspection  into  the  innermost  parts  of  the  minds 
of  men,  so  as  no  thought  can  escape  notice,  if  he  be  not 
present  there  ?  What  made  Paul  desire  that  our  Lord  Je- 
sus Christ  might  be  with  Timothy's  spirit,  if  he  thought  it 
impossible  ?  Do  not  all  acknowledge  the  Spirit  of  Christ 
who  is  the  anointed,  to  be  in  his  people  ?  and  is  he  then 
absent  ?  is  its  being  a  mystery,  far  beyond  our  compre- 
hension to  conceive  how  it  can  be,  a  sufficient  aipiment 
that  it  is  not  so  ?  Ought  we  not  in  such  cases  to  exercise 
faith,  and  acquiesce  in  the  testimony  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
expressed  in  the  sacred  Scriptures,  rather  than  interpose 
with  our  nice  and  curious  subtilties,  prying  unnecessarily 
into  things  that  are  too  high  for  us?  remembering  that 
secret  things  belong  unto  God,  and  that  those  that  know 
most  here,  know  only  in  part,  the  things  that  are  invisible, 
and  see  them  but  as  through  a  glass.  Shall  men  that 
neither  know  themselves,  nor  have  any  intuitive  know- 
ledge of  the  essences  even  of  the  meanest  things  where- 
with nature  every  where  presents  us,  which  are  obvious 
to  our  senses,  aspire  to  those  yet  more  abstruse,  and 


168        ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 

undertake  to  account  for  that  which  is  beyond  the  reach 
of  the  most  pregnant  wits  to  penetrate  ? 

"  Nor  do  we  thus  celebrate  Christ's  inward  and  spiritual 
appearance  in  the  soul  of  man,  with  the  least  intent  to 
diminish  the  true  value  and  efficacy  of  what  he  did  without 
us,  or  transacted  for  us,  as  God  manifested  in  flesh  ;  but  in 
concurrence  with  it,  and  pursuant  to  it,  for  completing  the 
salvation  intended  in  it :  neither  is  it  in  opposition  to  him 
as  he  is  without  us ;  but  we  believe  in  him  as  he  is  in- 
wardly revealed  in  measure,  and  also  as  he  is  in  his  own 
immense  fulness  without  us  ;  both  as  he  is  the  one  offering 
for  sin,  and  also  as  he  is  that  quickening  Spirit  and  im- 
mortal Seed,  by  which  we  are  begotten  again,  and  made 
alive  to  God,  and  the  author  of  that  living  faith  through 
which  'tis  savingly  applied  to  us.  For  though  he  offered 
up  himself  once  for  all,  and  sat  down  at  the  right  hand  of 
God,  yet  'tis  of  absolute  necessity  that  he  thus  appear 
and  operate  in  the  hearts  of  his  people  through  all  times, 
or  otherwise  they  can  never  be  happy,  nor  they  receive 
the  full  advantage  of  his  death."— P.  46  to  51.  1693. 


WILLIAM  EDMUNDSON. 

He  thus  commences  an  epistle  which  he  wrote  to 
Friends,  viz. — 

/•Christ  Jesus,  the  promised  Seed,  that  bruises  the  ser- 
pent's head,  of  whom  the  law  and  prophets  gave  testimony, 
according  to  the  promise  of  the  Father,  came  in  due  time, 
in  that  prepared  body,  to  do  the  will  of  God  for  man's 
redemption,  which,  when  he  had  finished,  and  tasted  death 
for  us,  he  ascended  up  on  high,  and  gave  gifts  to  men,  and 
peculiar  gifts  to  believers  ;  to  some  apostles,  to  some  pro- 
phets, and  to  some  evangelists,  pastors,  and  teachers,  dis- 
cerners  of  spirits,  help-meets  in  governments,  stnd  several 
other  gifts  gave  he  to  his  gathered  flock  that  believed  in 
him,  for  the  edifying  and  building  them  up  in  the  precious 
faith  which  he  is  the  Author  of,  that  they  may  come  to  the 
perfect  knowledge  of  God,  and  Christ,  in  the  measure  and 
stature  of  the  fulness  in  him,  and  be  established  in  him,  the 
Head  and  Foundation,  and  grow  up  in  him  in  all  virtue 


ON  THE  DIVrNITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.  169 


and  godliness,  in  gospel  order." — Pages  341,  342.  

1694. 

In  an  address  to  one  of  the  Irish  bishops,  he  has  these 
remarks  concerning  the  Society  of  Friends  : — 

"  Be  pleased  to  hear  a  few  sentences,  though  in  a  plain 
dress,  yet  true  in  themselves  :  We  are  Christians  ;  and  hold 
the  faith  and  doctrine  as  delivered  by  our  Saviour  Christ 
Jesus  and  his  apostles,  before  the  apostacy  and  falling  away, 
according,  as  it  is  left  on  record  in  Holy  Scriptures,  and  we 
are  conscientious  in  our  duty,  as  much  as  in  us  lies,  to  edu- 
cate and  train  up  our  children  accordingly." — Page  254. 
 1702. 

Speaking  of  himself,  he  says — 

"  Now  in  the  eighth  month,  in  the  year  1704,  and  in  the 
77th  year  of  my  age,  being  under  much  affliction  and 
weakness  of  body,  I  was  resigned  unto  the  blessed  will  of 
the  Lord :  yet  were  it  his  time,  would  gladly  have  been 
dissolved,  and  at  ease,  where  the  weary  are  at  rest,  and 
the  wicked  cease  from  troubling.  For  I  was  not  afraid  of 
death  or  the  grave,  but  could  say,  through  the  tender 
mercy  of  God,  Death,  where  is  thy  sting?  Grave,  where 
is  thy  victory?  Through  steadfast  faith  and  hope  in  my 
Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  who  suffered  for  me,  and 
whom  death  or  the  grave  could  not  hold ;  but  rose  again, 
and  appears  before  the  Father  for  me,  as  Advocate,  Media- 
tor, and  Interceder ;  who  in  my  youthful  days,  was  pleased 
to  visit  me  with  the  appearance  of  his  Holy  Spirit,  to  turn 
me  from  the  evil  of  my  ways,  making  me  sensible  of  his 
judgments  and  mercies,  calling  me  by  his  grace  to  a  reforma- 
tion, and  also  put  me  into  his  service,  of  the  ministration 
of  the  Word  of  Life,  and  doctrine  of  his  kingdom,  endow- 
ing me  with  a  talent  of  his  Holy  Spirit,  of  understanding 
in  doctrine  and  discipline,  for  the  benefit  of  his  church,  in 
which  I  have  laboured  for  the  space  of  above  fifty  years, 
according  to  my  strength  and  ability,  through  many  trou- 
bles, deep  exercises,  and  perils  of  divers  kinds,  met  with 
by  sea  and  land,  which  fell  to  my  lot  in  my  line  of  the 
Lord's  service,  both  in  the  wilderness  by  robbers,  and 
blood-thirsty  murderers,  by  open  opposers,  and  enemies  to 
truth,  and  worst  of  all,  by  false  brethren  under  the  same 
profession.  These  things,  and  many  other  great  exercises 
and  straits,  the  Lord's  arm  and  gracious  providence  have 
still  preserved  me  through,  and  supported  me  over,  in  the 
15 


1 70        ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


faith  that  gives  victory,  having  blessed  his  work  and  given 
the  testimony  of  his  truth,  dominion  to  this  present  time." 
—Pages  2G9,  270. 


BENJAMIN  COOLE. 

From  a  work,  entitled  "  The  Quakers  cleared  from  being 
Apostates,  &:c."  the  following  is  extracted.  Replying  to 
the  charge  of  denying  the  divinity  of  Jesus  Christ,  &c.  he 
says — 

"  Know,  then,  that  as  the  holy  Scripture  declared  the 
divinity  of  Christ,  so  we  as  faithfully  believe  it,  according 
to  Micah,  But  thou,  Bethlehem  Ephratah,  though  thou  be 
little  amongst  the  thousands  of  Judah,  yet  out  of  thee  shall 
he  come  forth  unto  me  that  is  to  be  ruler  in  Israel ;  whose 
goings  forth  have  been  from  of  old,  from  everlasting ;  or 
the  days  of  eternity.    Again,  In  the  beginning  was  the 
Word,  and  the  Word  was  with  God,  and  the  Word  was 
God ;  the  same  was  in  the  beginning  with  God :  all  things 
were  made  by  him,  and  without  him  was  not  any  thing 
made  that  was  made.    Again,  Who  is  the  image  of  the 
invisible  God,  the  First-born  of  every  creature.  Again, 
For  by  him  were  all  things  created,  &c.  who  was  the  Root 
and  Offspring  of  David,  the  bright  and  morning  Star.  The 
heir  of  all  things,  the  brightness  of  God's  glory,  and  the 
express  image  of  his  substance,  who  upholds  all  things  by 
the  word  of  his  power ;  and  by  whom  also  all  things  were 
created.    And  for  his  humanity,  according  to  the  Hebrews, 
Forasmuch  then  as  the  children  are  partakers  of  flesh  and 
blood,  he  also  himself  likewise  took  part  of  the  same,  that 
through  death  he  might  destroy  him  that  had  the  power  of 
death,  that  is,  the  devil.    For  verily  he  took  not  on  him 
the  nature  of  angels,  but  he  took  on  him  the  seed  of  Abra- 
ham :  wherefore  in  all  things  it  behoved  him  to  be  made 
like  unto  his  brethren,  that  he  might  be  a  merciful  and 
faithful  High  Priest,  in  things  .pertaining  to  God,  to  make 
reconciliation  for  the  sins  of  the  people.    xAgain,  For  we 
have  not  an  High  Priest  which  cannot  be  touched  with  the 
feeling  of  our  infirmities,  but  was  in  all  points  tempted  like 
as  we  are,  yet  without  sin.    And  as  to  his  sutfering,  both 
in  body  and  soul,  and  thereby  becoming  a  most  complete 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.  171 


sacrifice  for  the  remission  of  the  sins  of  the  whole  world, 
according  to  Isaiah,  Yet  it  pleased  the  Lord  to  bruise  him, 
he  hath  put  him  to  grief :  when  thou  shalt  make  his  soul 
an  otlering  for  sin,  he  shall  see  his  seed,  he  shall  prolong 
his  days,  and  the  pleasure  of  the  Lord  shall  prosper  in  his 
hand.  He  shall  see  the  travail  of  his  soul  and  be  satistied; 
by  his  knowledge  shall  my  righteous  Servant  justify  many, 
for  he  shall  bear  their  iniquities.  Neither  by  the  blood  of 
goats  and  calves,  but  by  his  own  blood,  he  entered  in  once 
into  the  holy  place,  having  obtained  eternal  redemption 
for  us.  How  much  more  shall  the  blood  of  Christ,  who 
through  the  eternal  Spirit  offered  himself  without  spot  to 
God,  purge  your  consciences  from  dead  works  to  serve 
the  living  God  ?  Again,  Who  gave  himself  for  us,  that  he 
might  redeem  us  from  all  iniquity,  and  purify  unto  himself 
a  peculiar  people,  zealous  of  good  works.  Again,  Christ 
also  hath  once  suffered  for  sins,  the  just  for  the  unjust,  that 
he  might  bring  us  to  God,  being  put  to  death  in  the  flesh, 
but  quickened  by  the  Spirit.  Again  ;  And  walk  in  love,  as 
Christ  also  hath  loved  us,  and  hath  given  himself  for  us, 
an  offering  and  a  sacritice  to  God  for  a  sweet  smelling 
savour.  That  I  may  know  him,  and  the  power  of  his 
resurrection,  and  the  fellowship  of  his  sufferings,  being 
made  conformable  unto  his  death.  With  many  more,  all 
which  we  as  truly  and  as  faithfully  believe,  as  any  protest- 
ants  whatever ;  and  he  must  have  a  face  of  brass  that  will 
«ay  the  Quakers  either  deny  or  undervalue  any  part  of  it." 

He  then  asserts  the  behef  of  the  Society  on  the  subject 
of  the  Holy  Three,  which  I  have  quoted  under  the  former 
section  ;  and  proceeds — 

"  And  as  for  the  body  of  Christ  turning  to  dust,  it  is  so 
great  an  untruth,  that  he  must  set  up  for  the  trade  of  lying 
that  attempts  a  greater ;  for  the  Quakers  believe  accord- 
ing to  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles,  which  saith,  Ye  men  of 
Galilee,  why  stand  ye^gazing  up  into  heaven  ?  This  same 
Jesus  which  is  taken  up  from  you  into  heaven,  shall  so 
come  in  like  manner  as  ye  have  seen  him  go  into  heaven. 
Again,  He,  seeing  this  before,  spake  of  the  resurrection  of 
Christ,  that  his  soul  was  not  left  in  hell,  neither  his  flesh  did 
see  corruption.  This  Jesus  hath  God  raised  up,  whereof 
we  are  all  witnesses.  Therefore  being  by  the  right  hand 
of  God  exalted,  and  having  received  of  the  Father  the 
promise  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  he  hath  shed  forth  this  which 


172 


ON  THE  DrV^INITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHBIST. 


ye  now  see  and  hear.  For  David  is  not  ascended  into  the 
heavens,  but  he  saith  himself,  'The  Lord  said  unto  my 
Lord,  Sit  thou  on  my  right  hand  until  I  make  thy  foes  thy 
footstool.'  Therefore  let  all  the  house  of  Israel  know 
assuredly,  that  God  hath  made  that  same  Jesus  whom  ye 
have  crucified,  both  Lord  and  Christ.  Again,  Whom  the 
heavens  must  receive  until  the  times  of  the  restitution  of 
all  things,  which  God  hath  spoken  by  the  mouth  of  all  his 
holy  prophets  since  the  world  began.  So  that  as  his  flesh 
saw  no  corruption,  he  ascended  far  above  all  heavens,  and 
sits  at  the  right  hand  of  the  Majesty  in  the  heavens,  k.c. 
Now  of  the  things  which  we  have  spoken,  this  is  the  sum  : 
We  have  such  an  High  Priest,  who  is  set  on  the  right 
hand  of  the  throne  of  the  Majesty  in  the  heavens. 

"  And  though  Christ  was  anointed  with  the  oil  of  joy 
and  gladness  above  his  fellows,  referring  to  his  manhood, 
which  the  Quakers  readily  confess,  yet  [they]  never  called 
it  'anointings,'  as  he  [an  opponent]  says,  for  what  reason 
I  know  not,  unless  to  abuse  the  Quakers.  And  that  all 
Christians  have  a  degree  or  measure  of  the  same,  the  fulness 
of  which  was  in  Him,  is  sound  doctrine ;  and  to  be 
believed  and  looked  for,  since  he  that  has  not  the  Spirit  of 
Christ  is  none  of  his."— P.  60.  1696. 


JOHN  FIELD. 

In  an  essay,  entitled  "  A  Testimony  to  Christ,  his  Sacri- 
fice and  Ordinances,  &c.""  I  find  the  following  sentiments, 
viz. — 

"And  1  do  assure  thee  [reader]  the  Quakers  preach 
and  expect  salvation  by  no  other  Christ,  than  he  that  the 
prophets  prophesied  of,  who  was  made  a  sacrifice  for  sin, 
tasted  death  for  every  man,  and  is  that  one  offering  that 
perfects  for  ever  them  that  are  sanctified,  by  whose  stripes 
they  are  healed,  and  by  whose  merits,  through  faith  in  and 
obedience  to  him,  they  are  saved." — Preface,  p.  2. 

"  First,  The  Quakers  own  Christ.  Although  F.  E.  [an 
opponent]  saith,  the  Quakers  do  deny  Jesus  of  Nazareth 
to  be  both  God  and  man,  and  they  preach  up  the  Light 
within  all  men,  to  be  the  Jesus,  the  Christ,  and  none  other, 
therefore  the  Quakers  preach  up  another  Jesus  Christ. 


ON  THE  DrV'IMTY  AND  OFFICES  OP  JESUS  CHBIST.  173 


"  Ans.  This  is  false  ;  for  the  Quakers  own  Jesus  of 
Nazareth,  and  that  Christ  is  both  God  and  man,  according 
to  the  Scriptures :  And  they  preach  up  no  other  Christ 
than  he  that  Micah  prophesied,  c.  v.  2,  sajing,  Thou, 
Bethlehem  Ephratah,  though  thou  he  little  amongst  the 
thousands  of  Judah,  yet  out  of  thee  shall  he  come  forth 
unto  me  that  is  to  be  ruler  in  Israel,  whose  goings  forth 
have  been  from  of  old,  from  everlasting:  ^Vho  was  born 
of  the  virgin,  xMatt  i.  1 8.  24.  Of  whom  John  writes,  that 
he  was  the  Word  that  was  w'ith  God,  and  the  Word  was 
G^d  :  the  same  was  in  the  beginning  with  God  ;  all  things 
w^ere  made  by  him,  and  without  him  was  not  any  thing 
made  that  was  made  :  in  him  was  life,  and  the  life  was  the 
light  of  men,  John  i.  1 — 4.  That  was  the  true  Light  which 
lighteth  every  man  that  cometh  into  the  world.  See  also 
V.  14.  The  Word-  was  made  flesh  and  dwelt  among  us  ; 
and  John  viii.  1 2.  Christ  said, '  I  am  the  Light  of  the  world.' 
This  and  no  other  is  the  Jesus  Christ  they  preach,  that  men 
might  believe  that  Jesus  is  the  Christ,  the  Son  of  God,  and 
that  believing;,  they  might  have  life  through  his  name,  John 
XX.  31. 

To  the  charge  that  the  Quakers  preach  up  another  Jesus, 
crucitied  in  all  men,  he  says — 

"  This  also  is  false ;  for  they  preach  up  no  other  than 
he  that  the  Scriptures  bear  testimony  unto,  that  witnessed 
a  good  confession  before  Pontius  Pilate,  w^as  crucified, 
and  rose  the  third  day,  and  appeared  to  his  disciples  after 
Iiis  resurrection,  and  said  to  them,  all  power  is  given  unto 
me  in  heaven  and  in  earth,  Matt,  xxviii.  18.  And  this  is 
he  they  own,  who  hath  given  himself  for  us,  an  offering 
and  a  sacrifice  to  God  for  a  sweet  smelling  savour,  Eph.  v. 
2."— P.  2.-  1697. 

John  Field,  in  a  pamphlet  entitled  "Some  Observations 
upon  the  remarks  on  the  people  called  Quakers,"  speak- 
ing of  Jesus  Christ,  in  whom  they  beheve  as  the  Saviour, 
Redeemer,  &lc.  says — 

"  It  is  that  Jesus  that  was  born  of  the  virgin  Mary  and 
supposed  to  be  the  son  of  Joseph,  who  about  1700  years 
past,  appeared  in  the  world,  was  manifest  in  the  flesh, 
wrought  wonderful  miracles,  preached  excellent  doctrine, 
underwent  a  great  agony,  died  for  our  sins,  rose  again  for 
our  justification,  and  ascended  into  heaven,  and  is  there 
the  one  Mediator  between  God  and  man,  the  Man  Christ 

15* 


174     ON  THE  DR'INITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 

Jesus,  to  whom  all  judgment  is  committed  and  power 
given,  and  who  declared  himself  the  Light  of  the  world, 
and  was  before  the  world  began,  and  exhorted  to  believe 
in  the  Light,  and  is  as  truly  now  in  the  true  believers,  as 
he  was  of  old  ;  yea,  in  all,  except  they  are  reprobates. 
And  the  same  Jesus  Christ,  they  firmly  believe,  shall  him- 
self descend  from  heaven  with  a  shout,  with  the  voice  of 
the  archangel  and  with  the  trump  of  God,  and  the  dead  in 
Christ  shall  rise  first.  And  they  own  and  believe  there 
shall  be  a  resurrection,  both  of  the  just  and  unjust.''- — P. 
12.  1700. 


ROGER  HAYDOCK, 

In  reply  to  the  assertion  that  either  the  wJiole  Christ  or 
no  Christ  must  be  in  men,  says — 

"  That  the  whole  Christ  or  no  Christ  is  in  us,  .l  deny. 
For  the  heaven  and  the  heaven  of  heavens  cannot  contain 
Christ  the  Lord,  how  much  less  then  should  the  whole 
Christ  be  in  us  ;  yet  unto  us  God  hath  given  of  his  Spirit  by 
measure,  and  the  earnest  of  his  Spirit  is  in  our  hearts.  And 
is  not  this  according  to  [the]  Scriptures,  Col.  i.  1 6.  Eph.  iii. 
9.  John  i.  3  ?  All  things,  both  in  heaven  and  in  earth,  visible 
and  invisible,  were  created  by  Jesus  Christ,  for  he  is  Lord 
of  lords,  and  King  of  kings,  Rev.  xvii.  14,  &c.  1  Tim.  vi.  15. 
Behold,  the  heaven  and  heaven  of  heavens  cannot  contain 
thee,  1  Kings  viii.  27.  And  is  not  Christ  and  God  one  ? 
John  X.  30,  <^c.  One  God  and  Father  of  all,  who  is  above 
all,  and  through  all,  and  in  you  all.  But  unto  every  one 
of  us  is  given  grace  according  to  the  measure  of  the  gift 
of  Christ,  Eph.  iv.  6,  7.  Rom.  xii.  3.  2  Cor.  x.  13.  The 
manifestation  of  the  Spirit  of  God  is  given  to  every  man  to 
profit  withal,  1  Cor.  xii.  7.  God  hath  given  the  earnest 
of  his  Spirit  unto  us,  in  our  hearts,  2  Cor.  i.  22.  and  v.  5. 
He  that  descended  is  the  same  also  that  ascended  up 
far  above  all  heavens,  that  he  might  fill  all  things,  Eph. 
iv.  10.'' 

His  opponent  denying  that  God  hath  given  of  his  Spirit 
by  measure,  R.  H.  says — 

"  Then  thou  denyest  Scripture,"  &c.  To  which  J.  D. 
answered  not. 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


175 


"  Now  I  further  add  some  Scriptures,  that  the  reader 
may  take  notice  thereof,  and  see  J.  D.'s  folly  :  John  iii.  34. 
For  God  giveth  not  the  Spirit  by  measure  unto  him,  viz. 
Christ  Jesus.  Col.  i.  19.  ii.  9.  In  him  it  pleased  the  Father 
all  fulness  should  dwell.  But  unto  every  one  of  us  is  given 
grace,'  according  to  the  measure  of  the  gift  of  Christ, 
Ephes.  iv.  7.  2  Cor.  x.  13.  Hereby  know  we  that  w  e  dwell 
in  him  and  he  in  us,  because  he  hath  given  us  of  his  Spirit, 
•1  John  iv.  13.  And  of  his  fulness  have  we  all  received, 
John  i.  16.  Mark,  of  Christ's  fulness  have  we  all  received  ; 
of  his  Spirit  he  hath  given  us,  and  grace  according  to  the 
measure  of  the  gift  of  Christ.  Observe,  ^\e  have  received 
but  measurahly  of  Christ's  fulness,  of  his  Spirit,  according 
to  the  good  pleasure  of  God  the  giver,  some  of  us  more, 
other  some  less,  yet  of  the  same  fulness,  of  the  same 
Spirit.  And  though  given  to  us  measurably,  it  is  the  same 
with  the  fulness,  it  is  of  the  Spirit ;  and  whether  a  larger 
or  lesser  measure  or  manifestation  of  the  fulness  of  the 
Spirit,  be  by  one  or  another  of  us  received,  yet  still  it  re- 
mains undivided  from  the  fulness,  from  the  Spirit,  which  is 
invisible."— P.  37,  6cC.  1699. 


RICHARD  ASHBY,  JOHN  FIDDEMAN,  AND  JOHN  CADE. 

From  an  essay  written  by  these  Friends,  entitled  "  The 
True  Light  owned  and  vindicated,"  &c.  1  extract  the 
following  sentiments,  viz. — 

"Now  the  Quakers  teach  no  other  light  but  what 
the  Holy  Scriptures  do  plainly  and  plentifully  declare  of, 
viz.  Jesus  Christ,  as  God's  covenant  of  Light,  who  came 
in  the  flesh  in  the  fulness  of  time ;  who  was  conceived  of 
the  Holy  Ghost,  and  born  of  the  Virgin  Mary ;  Mat.  i.  18. 
ii.  1,  2.  Luke  i.  30.  35.  ii.  11.;  being  of  the  seed  of  Abra- 
ham and  David,  according  to  the  flesh;  and  in  the  body, 
by  the  grace  of  God,  tasted  death  for  every  man  ;  Heb. 
ii,  9. ;  offered  up  himself  a  sacrifice  for  sins,  acceptable 
and  well  pleasing  to  God  the  Father,  Ephes.  v.  2.;  bearing 
our  sins  in  his  own  body  on  the  tree,  that  we  being  dead 
to  sin,  should  live  unto  righteousness ;  by  whose  stripes 
healing  comes  to  the  truly  believing  soul ;  1  Pet.  ii.  24. 
And  that  through  death  he  might  destroy  him  that  hath 


176     ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OP  JESUS  CHRIST. 


the  power  of  death,  and  bring  forth  life  and  imnnortality 
unto  Hght,  through  the  gospel  of  the  grace  of  God  ;  Heb. 
ii.  14.  2  Tim.  i.  9,  10.  And  is  declared  to  be  the  Son  of 
God  with  power,  according  to  the  Spirit  of  holiness,  by  the 
resurrection  from  the  dead,  Rom.  i.  3,  4.  And  is  ascended 
into  heaven,  sits  at  the  right  hand  of  God,  glorified  with 
the  same  glory  that  he  had  with  the  Father  before  the 
world  was,  John  xvii.  5.  And  is  our  Mediator,  appearing 
in  the  presence  of  God  for  us ;  and  in  the  appointed  time 
of  God  the  Father,  shall  come  to  judge  the  quick  and  the 
dead;  and  now  is,  in  a  most  spiritual  glorious  manner, 
with  his  church.  And  in  his  divine  being,  is  one  with  the 
Father,  and  is  eminently  declared  of  as  God's  covenant  of 
light,  as  the  holy  Scripture  witnesseth,  John  i.  1  to  4.  In 
the  beginning  was  the  Word,  and  the  Word  was  with  God, 
and  the  Word  was  God.  The  same  was  in  the  beginning 
with  God.  All  things  were  made  by  him,  and  without  him 
was  not  any  thing  made  that  was  made.  In  him  was  life, 
and  the  life  was  the  light  of  men.  V.  6  to  9.  There  was  a 
man  sent  from  God  whose  name  was  John  :  the  same 
came  for  a  witness  to  bear  witness  of  the  light,  that  all 
men  through  him  might  believe.  He  [John]  was  not  that 
Light,  but  was  sent  to  bear  witness  of  that  Light.  That 
was  the  true  light  which  lighteth  every  man  that  cometh 
into  the  world.  John  viii.  12.  Then  spake  Jesus  again 
unto  them,  saying,  I  am  the  Light  of  the  world  ;  he  that 
followeth  me  shall  not  abide  in  darkness,  but  shall  have  the 
light  of  life.  And  Paul,  that  able  minister  of  Jesus  Christ, 
was  sent  to  the  gentiles,  to  open  their  eyes,  and  to  turn 
them  from  darkness  to  light,  and  from  the  power  of  Satan 
unto  God,  that  they  might  receive  forgiveness  of  sins,  and 
[an]  inheritance  among  them  which  are  sanctified  by  faith 
that  is  in  Christ."— P.  8,  9,  10.  1699. 

From  an  essay,  entitled  "A  Tender  Salutation  of  Love," 
&:c.  the  following  .is  extracted.  After  speaking  of  the 
work  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  bringing  men  to  see,  and  to 
bewail,  their  sinful  and  undone  condition,  they  say: — 

"  Thus  men  being  sensible  of  the  exceeding  sinfulness 
of  sin,  they  will  mourn  and  look  unto  the  Lord  in  much 
sorrow,  and  confess,  against  thee  only  have  I  sinned ;  and 
these  know  the  spirit  of  grace  and  supplication  to  be 
poured  upon  them,  and  they  look  upon  him  whom  they 
have  pierced,  and  they  mourn  for  him.    And  it  is  thus  the 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.  177 

precious  effects  of  the  spirit  of  grace  take  place  in  the 
heart;  and  the  inward  eye  is  opened  to  look' upon  Christ, 
the  Lamb  of  God,  who,  in  the  unspeakable  love  of  God  the 
Father,  came  into  the  world  and  suffered  and  died  for 
sinners.  Oh  !  here  they  will  look  upon  the  Lamb  of  God 
and  mourn,  because,  as  the  prophet  saith,  surely  he,  Christ, 
hath  borne  our  griefs  and  carried  our  sorrows,  yet  we  did 
esteem  him  stricken,  smitten  of  God  and  afflicted;  but  he 
was  wounded  for  our  transgressions  ;  he  was  bruised  for 
our  iniquities ;  the  chastisement  of  our  peace  was  upon 
him,  and  with  his  stripes  we  are  healed.  Oh!  come,  ye 
that  are  wounded,  come  to  Christ  the  Lamb  of  God  ;  his 
healing  virtue  is  as  efficacious  as  ever  it  was,  and  the  love 
of  God  the  Father  is  as  large  as  ever  it  was ;  and  the  love 
of  Christ  is  the  same  as  ever  it  was ;  he  that  comes  unto 
him,  he  will  in  no  wise  cast  off." — P.  5. 


THOMAS  ELLWOOD. 

George  Keith  having  written  a  book  against  Friends, 
entitled  "  The  Deism  of  William  Penn  and  his  Brethren," 
(Sic.  Thomas  Ellwood  replied  to  it  in  1699,  from  which  I 
take  the  following  extract : — 

"  The  word  Deism  being  somewhat  an  uncommon  term, 
may  not  perhaps  be  readily  understood  by  every  reader. 
As  it  has  been  opposed  to  Atheism,  it  has  been  taken  in  a 
good  sense ;  but  as  it  is  now  used,  it  is  taken  in  an  ill 
sense,  as  importing  an  acknowledgment  or  owning  of  God 
only,  or  of  the  Godhead;  but  not  of  Christ,  with  respect 
to  his  incarnation,  or  being  manifest  in  the  flesh  for  the 
redemption  of  man  ;  so  that  to  charge  any  one  now  with 
Deism,  is  to  charge  him  with  denying  that  Christ  is  come, 
and  hath  suffered  in  the  flesh.  Now  herein  George 
Keith's  both  injustice  and  malice  is  the  greater,  in  charging 
William  Penn,''and  his  brethren  the  Quakers,  with  Deism; 
inasmuch  as  he  assuredly  knows,  (which  some  other  adver- 
saries have  not  had  the  like  opportunity  to  know,  as  he 
hath  had,)  by  certain  experience,  drawn  by  so  many 
years'  intimate  conversation  with  William  Penn  and  the 
Quakers,  in  free  and  familiar  conferences,  and  in  reading 
their  books;  that  William  Penn  and  the  Quakers,  both  in 


178        ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


word  and  writing,  publicly  and  privately,  have  always,  and 
on  all  occasions,  contest,  acknowledged,  owned,  as  well  as 
believed  the  incarnation  of  Christ,  according  to  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  viz. — 

'That  the  Word  was  made  flesh,'  John  i.  14.  That 
when  the  fulness  of  time  was  come,  God  sent  forth  his  Son, 
made  of  a  woman,  made  under  the  law,  to  redeem  them 
that  were  under  the  law,  Gal.  iv.  4,  5.  That  Christ  Jesus 
being  in  the  form  of  God,  and  thinking  it  no  robbery  to  be 
equal  with  God,  made  himself  of  no  reputation,  and  took 
upon  him  the  form  of  a  servant,  and  was  made  in  the  likeness 
of  men  ;  and  being  found  in  fashion  as  a  man,  he  humbled 
himself,  and  became  obedient  unto  death,  even  the  death 
of  the  cross,  Phil.  ii.  5,  6,  7,  8.  Christ  died  for  our  sins, 
according  to  the  Scriptures,  and  that  he  was  buried,  and 
that  he  rose  again  the  third  day,  according  to  the  Scrip-  ' 
tures,  1  Cor.  xv.  3,  4.  That  he  was  delivered  for  our 
offences,  and  was  raised  again  for  our  justification,  Rom. 
iv.  25.  That  he  is  the  propitiation  for  our  sins ;  and  not 
for  ours  only,  but  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world,  1  John 
ii.  2.  That  he  ascended  up,  far  above  all  heavens,  that  he 
might  fill  all  things,  Eph.  iv.  10.  That  he  is  the  one 
Mediator  between  God  and  men,  1  Tim.  ii.  5.  That  he  is 
at  the  right  hand  of  God,  and  maketh  intercession  for  us, 
Rom.  viii.  34.  And  is  our  Advocate  with  the  Father, 
1  John  ii.  1.  And  that  it  is  He  which  was  ordained  of 
God  to  be  the  Judge  of  quick  and  dead.  Acts  x.  42.  These 
things,  1  say,  George  Keith  certainly  knows,  have  been 
constantly  held,  believed,  professed,  and  owned  by  Wil- 
liam Penn,  and  his  brethren  the  Quakers  in  general,  both 
privately  and  publicly,  in  word  and  writing.  These  things 
are  so  often  testified  of  in  our  meetings,  and  have  been  so 
fully  and  plainly  asserted  and  held  forth  in  our  books,  that 
we  might  call  in  almost  as  many  witnesses  thereof,  as  have 
frequented  our  meetings,  or  attentively  read  our  books.'" 
T.  Ellwood's  Journal,  old  ed.  pages  443,  444,  445. 

Again,  on  page  451,  alluding  to  George  Keith  having 
once  been  in  membership  with  Friends,  he  says — 

"  Yet  he  himself  well  knows,  that  neither  he,  nor  Wil- 
liam Penn,  nor  any  of  the  Quakers,  ever  were  deists  ;  ever 
did  deny,  disown,  or  disbelieve,  the  coming,  incarnation, 
sufferings,  and  death  of  Christ,  as  man,  outwardly  in  the 
flesh,  his  resurrection,  ascension,  and  mediatorship  ;  and 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JE§US  CHRIST.  179 

he  himself  has  undesignedly  acquitted  Willianti  Penn  from 
his  present  charge  of  Deism,  by  a  story  he  told  in  his  first 
narrative,  p.  38.  That  upon  some  urging  him  to  give  an 
instance  of  one  English  Quaker,  that  he  ever  heard  pray 
to  Christ ;  William  Penn  being  present,  said,  1  am  an 
Englishman  and  a  Quaker,  and  I  own,  I  have  oft  prayed 
to  Christ  Jesus,  even  him  that  was  crucified.  This,  he 
says,,  was  in  the  year  1678,  which  was  five  years  after  the 
publishing  of  that  book,  [viz.  William  Penn's  Discourse  of 
the  General  Rule  of  faith  and  life,]  from  which  he  at- 
tempts to  prove  him  a  Deist ;  that  is,  a  denier  of  the  man 
Christ  Jesus,  that  was  crucified." — Journal,  p.  451. 


THOMAS  STORY, 

Being  on  a  religious  visit  in  America,  with  Aaron  Atkin- 
son, gives  the  following  account,  viz. — 

"  The  priest  was  then  silent  as  to  that  point,  [viz.  elec- 
tion,] and  in  an  angry  manner  affirmed,  that  we  as  a  people 
deny  Christ ;  and  pretended  he  could  prove  it,  being  fur- 
nished, as  we  perceived,  w^ith  his  pretended  proof,  out  of 
that  lying,  perverting,  scandalous  book,  called  the  Snake 
in  the  Grass,  which,  as  w^e  were  informed,  he  used  to  read 
often  among  his  people:  and  his  pretended  proof  amount- 
ing to  no  more  than  false  accusation,  we  rejected  and  ex- 
posed it  as  such.  Then  his  -last  shift  was  to  call  upon  us 
for  a  confession  of  our  own  faith  :  and  directed  his  demand 
to  our  friend  Richard  Johns,  in  particular,  with  whom  he 
was  acquainted. 

"  We  denied  that  he  had  any  authority  to  make  any  such 
demand  from  us,  nor  should  we,  on  his  own  account,  take 
any  notice  of  him  therein,  he  appearing  as  an  adversary 
and  perverter ;  but  for  the  sake  of  the  people,  were  willing 
to  say  what  might  be  sufficient  to  satisfy  such  as  were  not 
prepossessed  or  prejudiced  against  us  :  And  then  Richard 
Johns  began  and  proceeded  after  this  manner  :  '  We  be- 
lieve that  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  was  born  of  the  Vir- 
gin Mary,  being  conceived  by  the  power  and  influence  of 
the  Holy  Ghost,  is  the  true  Messiah  and  Saviour  ;  that  he 
died  upon  the  cross  at  Jerusalem,  a  propitiation  and  sacri- 
fice for  the  sins  of  all  mankind  ;  that  he  rose  from  the 


180      ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OP  JESUS  CHRIST. 

dead  the  third  day,  ascended,  and  sitteth  on  the  right 
hand  of  the  Majesty  on  high,  making  intercession  for  us, 
and  in  the  fulness  of  time  shall  come  to  judge  both  the 
living  and  the  dead,  and  reward  all  according  to  their 
works.'  All  which  being  more  fully  spoken  to  by  Roger 
Gill,  we  asked  the  people  if  they  were  satisfied  with  that 
confession,  and  they  generally,  from  all  quarters,  answered, 
yea,  yea,  yea  ;  it  is  full,  no  man  can  deny  it." — Pages  173, 
174.  1699. 


JOSEPH  WYETH, 

In  the  "  Switch  for  the  Snake,"  makes  these  observa- 
tions, viz. — 

"  The  Quakers  dispute  against  these,  viz.  the  outward 
sufferings  and  death  of  Christ,  and  place  the  merit  and 
satisfaction,  in  the  allegorical  sufferings  and  blood  of  their 
light  within,  inwardly  shed,"  &c. 

"  This  assertion  of  the  Snake  is  not  allegorically,  but 
literally,  a  lie ;  for  we  acknowledge  the  satisfaction  made 
by  Christ  to  his  Father,  but  we  do  deny  that  groundless 
and  dangerous  notion,  of  his  having  paid,  and  his  Father 
exacted,  that  strict  and  rigorous  satisfaction,  by  under- 
going the  self-same  punishment  and  pains  that  the  damned 
suffer  in  hell. 

"  We  own  the  merit  of  his^outward  death  and  sufferings, 
but  dispute  against  the  misapplication  of  that  merit,  to 
ungodly  men,  continuing  impenitently  in  their  sins. 

"  We  own  and  believe,  that  men,  by  continuing  impeni- 
tently in  their  sins,  do  press,  as  with  sheaves,  the  Holy 
Spirit,  and  by  such,  their  despite  to  the  Spirit  of  grace,  do 
grieve  the  good  Spirit  of  God,  which  he  hath  shed  abroad 
upon  the  hearts  of  men,  in  order  to  their  regeneration. 
But  have  never  said  or  believed,  that  the  satisfaction  made 
by  Christ  to  the  Father,  and  the  merit  thereof,  consisted  iu 
any  allegorical  suffering  and  blood  of  the  Light  within,  in- 
wardly shed. 

"  We  own  and  believe,  that  men,  through  obedience  to 
the  Spirit  of  grace,  may  come  to  have  their  consciences 
sprinkled  from  dead  works,  to  serve  the  living  God  ;  and 
may,  through  the  blood  of  the  everlasting  covenant,  be 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.  181 


made  perfect  in  every  good  work  to  do  the  will  of  God, 
through  Jesus  Christ.  But  have  never  placed,  or  believed 
the  possibihty  thereof,  did  consist  in  such  allegorical 
death  and  sufferings,  as  the  Snake  does  insinuate  against 
us ;  no  more  than  the  apostle,  in  these  and  other  places 
of  Holy  Writ,  where  he  directs  men  to  the  Word,  Christ, 
in  them,  can  be  supposed  to  undervalue  the  outward 
death  and  sufferings  of  Christ,  at  Jerusalem,  and  to  place 
the  satisfaction  he  made  to  the  Father,  and  the  merit  of 
it,  to  consist  in  these  his  spiritual  appearances,  by  the 

Holy  Spirit,  in  the  hearts  of  men." — Switch,  p.  7,  8.  

1699. 

"According  to  what  has  been  already  spoken  in  the 
foregoing  sections,  occasionally,  concerning  the  divinity 
and  incarnation  of  Christ,  I  do  here  of  set  purpose  declare 
it  as  a  truth,  which  now  is,  and  always  hath  been,  since  we 
were  a  people,  believed  and  declared  by  us  :  That  the 
Word  which  was  in  the  beginning  with  God,  by  which  all 
things  were  made,  did,  in  the  fulness  of  time,  according  to 
the  appointment  of  the  Father,  take  flesh,  and  was  born 
of  the  Virgin  Mary,  and  that,  in  that  body  of  flesh,  the 
fulness  of  the  Godhead  dwelt  bodily.  Thus  in  the  large- 
ness of  the  expression,  and  sense  of  Scripture,  we  do  truly 
and  sincerely  own,  according  to  John  i.  14.  that  the  Word 
was  made  flesh,  &c.  dwelt  on  the  earth,  and  took  on  him, 
not  the  nature  of  angels  ;  not  any  aerial  or  fantastical 
body ;  but  the  seed  of  Abraham  and  David  ;  and  this  he 
did  for  the  same  reason  and  behoof  mentioned  by  the 
apostle,  Heb.  ii.  17,  18.  Wherefore  in  all  things  it  beho- 
veth  him  to  be  made  like  unto  his  brethren,  that  he  might 
be  a  merciful  and  faithful  High  Priest  in  things  pertaining 
to  God,  to  make  reconciliation  for  the  sins  of  the  people. 
For  in  that  he  himself  hath  suffered,  being  tempted,  he  is 
able  to  succour  them  that  are  tempted.  For  which  infinite 
love  of  Jesus  Christ,  in  being  both  the  Saviour  and  Re- 
conciler of  men  to  God,  through  himself,  we  sincerely  say 
with  the  apostle,  Heb.  iii.  3.  For  this  man  was  counted 
worthy  of  more  glory  than  Moses,  inasmuch  as  he  who 
hath  builded  the  house  hath  more  honour  than  the  house." 
—P.  191. 

"In  the  section  immediately  foregoing,  the  divinity  and 
incarnation  of  Christ  are  largely  treated  of,  and  I  have 
therein  shown  that  we  own  and  believe  both  as  declared 
16 


182         ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OP  JESUS  CHRISTv 

fully  and  truly  in  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  also  that  our 
books,  rescued  from  the  perversions  of  this  our  adversary, 
do  speak  according  to  that  acknowledged  rule.  It  remains, 
that  in  this,  I  now  show  that  we  have  always  owned  in  like 
scriptural  sense  ;  that  Jesus  Christ,  in  life,  doctrine,  and 
death,  did  fulfil  his  Father's  will,  and  did  offer  up  himself 
a  most  satisfactory  sacrifice  for  the  sins  of  mankind,  in  op- 
position to  the  false  insinuations  of  the  Snake  herein,  who 
says,  herein  the  Quakers  are  direct  Socinians,  for  they 
positively  deny  the  satisfaction. 

"  Under  which  cloudy  charge,  he  insinuates  as  if  we  did 
deny  what  the  Scriptures  do  declare  herein  ;  which  is  false, 
and  he  might  with  equal  sincerity  have  said,  the  Church 
of  England  do  deny  the  satisfaction.  For  to  come  nearer, 
the  satisfaction  which  is  positively  denied  by  us,  is  as  posi- 
tively denied  by  the  Church  of  England,  which  is,  that 
rigid  and  strict  notion  of  satisfaction,  which  some  had 
doctrinally,  but  unscripturally  laid  down,  in  the  terms  fol- 
lowing, viz.  '  That  man  having  transgressed  the  righteous 
law  of  God,  and  so  exposed  to  the  penalty  of  eternal 
wrath,  it  is  altogether  impossible  for  God  to  remit  or  for- 
give, without  a  plenary  satisfaction  ;  and  that  there  was 
no  other  way  by  which  God  could  obtain  satisfaction,  or 
save  men,  than  by  inflicting  the  penalty  of  infinite  wrath 
and  vengeance  on  Jesus  Christ,  the  second  person  in  the 
Trinity,  who  for  sins  past,  present,  and  to  come,  hath 
wholly  borne  and  paid  it  to  the  offended  infinite  justice 
of  his  Father.' 

"  This,  reader,  is  the  satisfaction,  or  strict  and  rigid 
notion  of  it  which  we  do  deny,  and  which  William  Penn, 
as  quoted  by  the  Snake,  p.  154,  does  totally  exclude,  as 
anon  1  shall  have  occasion  more  largely  to  show.  But 
that  we  do  from  hence  deny  the  satisfaction  which  Christ 
did  make,  and  which  the  Father  did  accept,  as  mentioned 
and  declared  in  Holy  Writ,  is  very  false.  For  we  do  be- 
lieve that  as  our  Saviour  does  declare,  John  x.  18,  'No 
man  taketh  it  from  me,  (speaking  of  his  life,)  but  I  lay  it 
down  of  myself:  I  have  power  to  lay  it  down,  and  I  have 
power  to  take  it  again.  This  commandment  received! 
of  my  father.'  I  say,  we  do  believe  that  as  Christ  had  this 
commandment  and  power  from  the  Father,  so  by  his  pure, 
divine,  free,  and  voluntary  resignation,  '  not  as  I  will,  but 
as  thou  wilt,'  Matt.  xxvi.  42  ;  he  did  thereby  endear  the 


ON  THE  DIVIKITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.  183 

Father's  love  unto  him,  as  himself  declares,  verse  1 7, 
Therefore  doth  my  Father  love  me,  because  1  lay  down 
my  life.  And  this  his  free,  and  unconstrained,  voluntary 
offering  of  himself  as  a  ransom  for  all,  did  include  his 
agony  on  the  mount,  and  his  agony  on  the  cross ;  in  fine, 
it  includes  all  his  sufferings,  both  inward  and  outward, 
whereby  he  became  a  complete,  perfect,  and  satisfactory 
sacrifice,  and  as  such  was  accepted  of  the  Father.  This 
briefly,  but  truly,  and  according  to  Scripture,  is  a  short 
account  of  the  satisfaction  which  we  do  positively  own  ; 
as  the  former  is  an  account  of  the  satisfaction  which  we 
do  positively  deny."— P.  230,  231,  232. 


RICHARD  CLARIDGE, 

After  stating  the  doctrine  of  rigid  satisfaction,  as  held  by 
some  of  the  professors  of  his  day,  and  ably  refuting  it  by 
sound  Scripture  arguments,  declares  the  belief  of  Friends 
concerning  Christ  Jesus  and  his  sufferings,  in  the  following 
words  : — 

"We  do  believe  that  he  suffered  under  Pontius  Pilate, 
wa^  crucified,  dead,  and  buried  ;  that  he  is  the  propitiation 
for  our  sins,  and  not  for  ours  only,  but  also  for  the  sins  of 
the  whole  world,  1  John  ii.  2.  That  it  is  through  his 
blood  that  we  have  redemption,  even  the  forgiveness  of 
sins.  Col.  i.  14.  AVe  do  believe,  that  as  he  was  delivered 
for  our  offences,  so  he  was  raised  again  for  our  justification, 
Rom.  iv.  25.  and  ever  liveth  to  make  intercession  for  us, 
Heb.  vii.  25.  We  do  also  believe,  that  he  was  and  is  both 
God  and  man,  in  wonderful  union,  not  a  God  by  creation 
or  office,  as  some  hold ;  nor  man  by  the  assumption  of  an 
human  body  only,  without  a  reasonable  soul,  as  others ; 
nor  that  the  manhood  was  swallowed  up  of  the  Godhead, 
as  a  third  sort  grossly  fancy :  but  God  uncreated,  see  John 
i.  1,  2,  3.  Col.  i.  17.  Heb.  i.  8.  10.  12.  The  true  God,  1 
John,  V.  20.  The  great  God,  Tit.  ii.  13.  The  Lord  of 
glory,  James  ii.  1.  King  of  kings,  and  Lord  of  lords,  Rev. 
xix.  16.  Which  is,  and  which  was,  and  which  is  to  come, 
the  Almighty,  Rev.  i.  8.  The  same  yesterday,  to  day,  and 
for  ever,  Heb.  xiii.  8.  And  man  conceived  by  the  Holy 
Ghost,  and  born  of  the  virgin  Mary,  see  Luke  i.  31.  35. 


184         ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 

Who  suffered  for  our  salvation.  Hath  given  himself  for 
us,  an  offering  and  a  sacrifice  to  God,  for  a  sweet  smelling 
savour,  Eph.  v.  2.  And  by  his  own  blood  he  entered  in 
once  into  the  holy  place,  having  obtained,  or  found,  as  the 
word  signifies,  eternal  redemption  for  us,  Heb.  ix.  12.  It 
was  (see  1  Tim.  ii.  5.)  the  Man  Christ  Jesus,  the  one  Me- 
diator between  God  and  men,  that  was  conceived,  born, 
suffered,  died,  and  gave  himself  a  ransom  for  all ;  for 
through  the  eternal  Spirit,  he  offered  himself  without  spot 
to  God,  Heb.  ix.  14.  Though  by  wicked  hands  he  was 
crucified  and  slain.  Acts  ii.  23.  And  in  the  offering  of 
himself,  he  was  a  true  and  real  sacrifice  and  propitiation 
for  sin,  acceptable  and  satisfactory  to  God.  But  he  was 
not  a  sinner,  or  reputed  by  God  as  such ;  for  the  apostle 
saith  expressly.  That  he  knew  no  sin,  1  Cor.  v.  21.  was 
without  sin,  Heb.  iv.  15.  was  holy,  harmless,  undefiled, 
separate  from  sinners,  Heb.  vii.  26.  But  it  was  by  wicked 
men,  that  esteemed  and  condemned  him,  the  Just  and  Holy 
One,  as  a  sinner,  and  numbered  him  with  the  transgress- 
ors, Isa.  liii.  12." — Pages  441—443. 

He  then  cites  the  testimony  of  some  protestant  writers, 
to  show  that  Christ  did  not  so  take  the  sinner's  guilt  upon 
him,  as  to  suffer  the  very  same  eternal  punishment  that  is 
due  to  the  wicked,  and  adds — 

"  As  it  was  the  main  design  of  Christ's  life,  doctrine, 
and  miracles,  to  call  men  to  repentance,-  faith,  and  obedi- 
ence ;  so  it  was  also  the  great  end  of  his  sufferings  and 
death,  to  accomplish  the  same  glorious  design.  For  he 
gave  himself  for  our  sins,  that  he  might  deliver  us  from  this 
present  evil  world,  according  to  the  will  of  God  and  our 
Father,  Gal.  i.  4.  He  loved  the  church  and  gave  himself 
for  it :  that  he  might  sanctify  and  cleanse  it,  with  the  wash- 
ing of  water,  by  the  Word  ;  that  he  might  present  it  to  him- 
self a  glorious  church,  not  having  spot  or  wrinkle,  or  any 
such  thing  :  but  that  it  should  be  holy  and  without  blem- 
ish. .  Eph.  v.  25,  26,  27.  He  gave  himself  for  us  that 
he  might  redeem  us  from  all  iniquity,  and  purify  unto  him- 
self a  peculiar  people,  zealous  of  good  works.  Tit.  ii.  14. 
This  was  a  principal  end  of  his  giving  of  himself  for  us,  or 
offering  himself  a  sacrifice  of  propitiation  for  the  sins  of 
mankind.  For  he  died  for  all,  that  they  which  live,  should 
not  henceforth  live  unto  themselves,  but  unto  him  which 
died  for  them,  and  rose  again,  2  Cor.  v.  15.    This  is  the 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


185 


argument  that  the  apostle  much  insisted  upon  ;  and  for  the 
further  enforcing  of  it,  I  shall  mention  but  two  places  more  ; 
Ye  are  bought,  saith  he,  with  a  price,  therefore  glorify  God 
in  your  body,  and  in  your  spirit,  which  are  God's,  1  Cor. 
vi.  20.  And  you  that  were  sometimes  alienated,  and  ene- 
mies in  your  mind  by  wicked  works,  yet  now  hath  he  re- 
conciled, in  the  body  of  his  flesh  through  death,  to  present 
you  holy  and  unblameable,  and  unreproveable  in  his  sight, 
Col.  i.  21,  22."— Pages  444,  445. 

In  stating  the  belief  of  Friends  on  the  subject  of  justifi- 
cation, in  an  argument  which  he  had  with  an  Antinomian 
Baptist,  he  says  : — 

"  In  a  word,  if  justification  be  considered  in  its  full  and 
just  latitude,  neither  Christ's  work,  without  us,  in  the  pre- 
pared body,  nor  his  work  within  us,  by  his  Holy  Spirit,  are 
to  be  excluded ;  for  both  have  their  place  and  service  in 
our  complete  and  absolute  justification. 

"  By  the  propitiatory  sacrifice  of  Christ  without  us,  we, 
truly  repenting  and  believing,  are,  through  the  mercy  of 
God,  justified  from  the  imputations  of  sins  and  trangres- 
sions  that  are  past,  as  though  they  had  never  been  com- 
mitted;  and  by  the  mighty  work  of  Christ  within  us,  the 
power,  nature,  and  habits  of  sin  are  destroyed,  that  as  sin 
once  reigned  unto  death,  even  so  now  grace  reigneth, 
through  righteousness,  unto  eternal  life,  by  Jesus  Christ 
our  Lord.  And  all  this  is  effected,  not  by  a  bare  or  naked 
act  of  faith,  separate  from  obedience  ;  but  in  the  obedience 
of  faith,  Christ  being  the  author  of  eternal  salvation  to 
none  but  those  that  obey  him." — P.  79.  1699. 


THEODORE  ECCLESTONE, 

In  his  testimony  concerning  John  Crook,  says — 
"  Among  other,  his  faithful  brethren,  he  had  a  reverent 
esteem  of  the  coming  of  Christ,  and  his  sufiferings  in  the 
days  of  his  flesh,  and  knew  well  how  to  distinguish  his 
great  work  of  redemption  and  salvation,  as  he  died  for  all 
men,  or  was  a  sacrifice  for  sin  ;  and  also  as  he  was  a  sanc- 
tifier  and  redeemer  out  of  sin  ;  the  fruit  and  benefit  of  the 
one,  being  not  obtained  without  the  other. 

"  And  were  our  adversaries  duly  sensible  what  great 
16* 


186        ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


things  Christ  both  doth  in  us,  as  well  as  did  for  us,  surely 
they  would  be  humbled  under  his  mighty  hand,  and  leave 
off  their  slight  esteem  of  his  spiritual  work  in  us,  and  not 
suppose  the  one  to  be  in  opposition  to  the  other. 

"  The  apostle  Peter  saith,  '  He  bore  our  sins  in  his 
own  body  on  the  tree,  that  we  being  dead  unto  sin,  should 
live  unto  righteousness.'  And  how  can  we  die  unto  sin 
and  live  unto  righteousness,  but  by  his  assistance  inwardly 
manifest  in  his  light,  grace  and  Holy  Spirit  ? 

"  Our  being  born  again,  not  of  corruptible  seed,  but  of 
incorruptible,  by  the  Word  of  God,  which  lives  and  abides 
for  ever,  doth  not  hinder  his  being  made  sin  for  us,  who 
knew  no  sin,  that  we  may  be  made  the  righteousness  of  God 
in  him. 

"  Our  owning  we  are  sanctified  by  the  work  of  his  Spirit 
in  our  inward  parts,  hinders  not  our  having  remission  of 
sins  in  his  name. 

"  He  having  left  us  an  example  that  we  should  follow 
his  steps,  bars  him  not  at  all  from  being  our  King,  and 
Captain  of  salvation  :  though  he  is  a  Condemner  of  sin  in 
the  flesh,  yet  he  is  also  our  Advocate  with  the  Father,  Je- 
sus Christ  the  righteous. 

"  Our  owning  him  a  sacrifice  for  sin,  hinders  not  at  all 
his  being  our  great  High  Priest. 

"  Our  acknowledging  he  was  tempted  in  all  points,  like 
as  we  are,  doth  not  prevent  his  being  able  to  succour  us, 
when  we  are  tempted.  Thus  our  preaching  him,  the  true 
Light,  which  lighteth  every  man  that  cometh  into  the 
world,  doth  not  divest  him  of  any  of  his  blessed  attributes, 
or  offices,  worthily  bestowed  upon  him  in  Holy  Scripture  ; 
as  the  seed  of  the  woman,  the  Word,  Emmanuel,  Inter- 
preter, One  amon'g  a  thousand.  Wonderful,  Counsellor, 
Mighty  God,  Everlasting  Father,  Prince  of  Peace,  Lamb 
of  God,  Jesus,  Saviour,  the  very  Christ,  the  Anointed,  and 
many  more :  yea,  he  becomes  all  these  to  us  as  we  walk 
in  his  light,  who  was  given  for  a  Light  to  lighten  the  gen- 
tiles, that  he  might  be  God's  salvation  to  the  ends  of  the 
earth."— Page  48,  49.  1700. 


ON  THE  DmNITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHKIST. 


187 


BENJAMIN  LINDLEY. 

The  following  extract  is  from  "  A  Treatise  of  Election 
and  Reprobation,"  written  by  this  Friend,  and  published  in 
the  year  1700:— 

"  Jesus  Christ  is  our  High  Priest,  and  as  such,  it  is  his 
office  to  bless  us,  to  offer  up  our  sacrifices,  to  atone  and 
intercede  for  and  in  our  behalf.  Every  high  priest  taken 
from  among  men,  is  ordained  for  men  in  things  pertaining 
to  God,  that  he  may  offer  both  gifts  and  sacrifices  for  sins  ; 
who  can  have  compassion  on  the  ignorant,  and  on  them 
that  are  out  of  the  way.  And  if  men  had  such  great 
benefit  and  blessing  by  the  high  priests  after  the  order  of 
Aaron,  how  great  blessing  and  benefit  then  have  we  by 
our  High  Priest,  after  the  order  of  Melchisedeck,  who  was 
before  Aaron,  and  is  greater  than  Aaron  ? 

"  Great  was  the  love  of  God  unto  us,  in  giving  his  Son 
to  be  our  High  Priest,  to  have  the  oversight  and  cure  of 
our  souls,  and  ineffable  [are]  the  benefits  mankind  receive 
hy  Him,  who  being  exalted  oy  the  right  hand  of  God,  and 
having  received  from  the  Father  the  promise  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  hath  shed  forth  this  in  some  measure  upon  all. 
Oh  !  how  wonderfully  did  He,  when  he  took  our  nature 
upon  him,  sh6w  how  great  was  his  goodness  to  the  sons 
of  men  !  So,.if  under  the  cure  of  such  an  High  Priest,  we 
come  to  any  miscarriage,  it  must  be  through  ourselves 
_p.  13.  1700. 


JOHN  GRATTON, 

In  his  reply  to  some  queries  propounded  to  the  Quakers, 
by  a  clergyman,  says — 

"  Thou  beginnest  thus  :  What  Jesus  Christ  is  it  that  he 
preached  ?  I  told  thee  before,  but  that,  it  seems,  would  not 
satisfy  thee,  and  therefore  I  say, 

"  That  we  preach  the  same  Jesus  Christ,  that  was  con- 
ceived by  the  Holy  Ghost,  born  of  the  virgin  Mary,  suffered 
under  Pontius  Pilate,  was  crucified,  dead,  and  buried,  rose 
again  the  third  day,  ascended  into  heaven,  and  is  on  the 
right  hand  of  the  Majesty  on  high,  and  will  come  to  judge 


188        ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


quick  and  dead :  this  is  our  Intercessor,  Advocate  with 
the  Father,  our  Mediator  betwixt  God  and  man,  the  Man 
Christ  Jesus  ;  this  is  He  who,  of  God,  is  made  unto  us  wis- 
dom, and  righteousness,  and  sanctification,  and  redemption, 
the  Author  and  Finisher  of  our  faith,  our  hope  of  glory,  our 
hfe,  light,  strength,  and  salvation  ;  our  Captain,  Ensign, 
Deliverer,  Preserver,  and  Helper ;  without  him  we  are  as 
nothing,  and  can  do  nothing ;  He  is  the  Mighty  God,  the 
Everlasting  Father,  the  King  of  kings  and  Lord  of  lords." 
—Journal,  p.  352,  353.  -1703. 

From  a  treatise  concerning  the  death  and  sufferings  of 
Christ,  1  extract  the  following  : — 

"  But  some  are  ready  to  object,  and  say,  '  You  Quakers 
do  mightily  preach  up  the  light  within,  but  you  say  little  of 
the  death  and  sufferings  of  Christ  without  the  gates  of 
Jerusalem,  fcc' 

"  Answer. — We  have  many  accusers,  that  say  all  man- 
ner of  evil  against  us,  which  we  patiently  bear,  knowing  it 
is  for  his  sake,  that  suffered  for  us,  who  is  become  not 
only  our  light,  but  also  our  salvation,  as  we  abide  in  him, 
as  he  hath  commanded  us.  And  we  declare,  that  as  he 
by  the  grace  of  God  tasted  death  for  every  man  ;  so  every 
man  hath  this  benefit  by  it,  that  he  may  now  come  to  him, 
receive  him  ;  and  in  him,  receive  power  to  become  a  child 
of  God  :  therefore  when  he  came  into  the  world,  there  was 
great  joy,  for  the  angel  that  appeared  unto  the  shepherds, 
said  unto  them,  Fear  not,  for  behold  I  bring  you  good 
tidings  of  great  joy,  which  shall  be  to  all  people  ;  and  there 
was  with  the  angel  a  multitude  of  the  heavenly  host,  prais- 
ing God,  and  saying,  Glory  to  God  in  the  highest,  and  on 
earth  peace,  good  will  towards  men. 

"  Here  is  universal  love,  for  God  so  loved  the  world,  that 
he  gave  his  only  begotten  Son,  that  whosoever  believeth 
in  him  should  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting  life  :  So  all 
the  w^orld  are  put  into  a  capacity,  by  the  death  and  suffer- 
ings of  Christ,  to  come  to  him  ;  and  he  that  comes  to 
Christ,  he  will  in  no  wise  cast  out;  for  God  is  no  respecter 
of  persons,  but  in  every  nation  he  that  fears  him  and  works 
righteousness,  is  accepted  of  him.  So  we  say  it  is  Christ, 
that  suffered  for  us,  the  just  for  the  unjust,  that  he  might 
bring  us  to  God,  being  put  to  death  in  the  flesh,  but  quick- 
ened by  the  Spirit ;  yea,  he  laid  down  his  life  a  ransom  for 
all,  who  himself  bare  our  sins  in  his  own  body  on  the  tree, 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.  189 

that  we,  being  dead  unto  sin,  should  live  unto  righteous- 
ness, by  whose  stripes  we  are  healed  ;  yea,  whilst  we  were 
sinners,  Christ  died  for  us,  and  by  himself,  purged  our  sins  : 
Forasmuch  then  as  the  children  are  partakers  of  flesh  and 
blood,  he  also  himself,  likewise  took  part  of  the  same, 
that  through  death  he  might  destroy  him  that  had  the 
power  of  death,  that  is,  the  devil ;  and  deliver  them,  who, 
through  fear  of  death,  were  all  their  life  time  subject  to 
bondage. 

"  Thus  now  I  declare,  we  own  the  death  and  sufferings 
of  Christ,  according  to  the  Holy  Scriptures ;  and  that  he, 
and  him  only,  that  suffered  without  the  gates  of  Jerusalem, 
hath  been  our  peace-maker ;  afid  is  now  come  by  his  light, 
and  Spirit,  to  give  us  the  knowledge  of  God,  and  what  he 
hath  done  for  us ;  so  that  in  his  light,  we  see  Him  who  is 
our  Light  and  our  salvation  ;  as  Isaiah  said.  He  hath  borne 
our  sorrows,  and  carried  our  griefs,  which  were  the  sad 
effects  of  our  sins,  so  that  now,  remission  of  sins  that  are 
past,  is  freely  preached  unto  all  men  through  him,  and  all 
mankind  are  invited  to  come  to  him,  and  all  the  ends  of 
the  earth  to  look  unto  him  and  be  saved."" — Pages  390. 

392.  IGOO. 

In  an  essay,  entitled  "  Christ  is  All  in  All,  &c."  after 
recounting  the  miracles,  mighty  works,  and  gracious  acts 
of  our  blessed  Lord,  while  personally  on  earth,  he  adds— 

"  But  what  shall  I  say,  who  can  declare  the  good  he  did? 
It  is  undeclarable,  his  goodness  surpasses  the  understand- 
ing of  all  mankind  :  he  fulfilled  the  law  of  Moses  to  a  jot 
or  tittle,  and  was  so  holy,  harmless,  righteous,  just  and 
good,  that  no  man  could  convince  him  of  sin ;  he  was  and 
is  the  end  of  the  law  for  righteousness  to  every  one  that 
believeth ;  he  suffered  for  us,  the  just  for  the  unjust,  that 
he  might  bring  us  to  God ;  he  laid  down  his  life,  a  ransom 
for  all,  and  tasted  death  for  every  man  ;  he  offered  up  him- 
self a  Lamb  without  spot  unto  God  ;  he  poured  out  his  soul 
unto  death,  and  became  an  offering  for  sin,  and  was  a 
propitiatory  sacrifice ;  our  passover  sacrificed  for  us  ; 
offered  up  himself  once  for  all,  and  by  one  offering  hath 
perfected  for  ever  them  that  are  sanctified :  those  who 
receive  him  in  the  love  of  God,  he  works  in  them  and  for 
them,  makes  them  new  creatures,  quickens  them  who 
were  dead  in  trespasses  and  sins ;  he  is  the  resurrection 
and  the  life,  he  that  believes  in  me,  saith  he,  though  he 


190        ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 

were  dead,  yet  shall  he  live ;  and  he  that  liveth  and  be- 
lie veth  in  me,  shall  never  die. 

"  He  is  our  Peace-Maker,  the  Prince  of  peace,  our  Re- 
conciler to  God,  the  Word  of  reconciliation ;  he  is  the 
true  Light  that  lighteth  every  man  that  cometh  into  the 
vs^orld ;  he  that  believeth  in  him  shall  not  abide  in  dark- 
ness, but  shall  have  the  light  of  life.  He  is  our  Wisdom, 
Righteousness,  Sanctification,  and  Redemption,  our  Life, 
Strength,  and  Way  to  God,  our  All  in  All. 

"  Oh !  the  benefits,  advantages,  favours,  blessings,  and 
mercies  accruing  by  the  coming  of  Christ  into  the  world ; 
by  his  living  and  dying  in  it,  and  for  it,  perfecting  tlie 
work  of  our  salvation,  without  any  merit  of  mankind  ;  for 
all  had  sinned,  and  fallen  short  of  the  glory  of  God  ;  there 
were  none,  in  that  state,  righteous,  no  not  one  :  there  were 
none  that  did  good,  they  were  altogether  become  unprofit- 
able; the  way  of  peace  they  did  not  know ;  there  was  no 
fear  of  God  before  their  eyes ;  yet  when  we  were  without 
strength,  in  due  time  Christ  died  for  the  ungodly :  But  God 
commendeth  his  love  towards  us,  in  that  while  we  were 
yet  sinners,  Christ  died  for  us ;  here  is  the  love,  not  that 
we  loved  him,  but  God  so  loved  us  that  he  gave  his  only 
begotten  Son,  that  he  by  the  grace  of  God  should  taste 
death  for  every  man:  the  love  of  Christ  constraineth 
treatise  we  thus  judge,  that  if  one  die  for  all  men,  then 
were  all  dead,  and  that  he  died  for  all,  that  they  who  live, 
should  not  henceforth  live  unto  themselves,  but  unto  him 
that  died  for  them,  and  rose  again  :  So  all  things  are  of 
God,  and  nothing  of  man,  in  this  great  work  of  salvation  ; 
but  all  of  God,  who  hath  reconciled  us  unto  himself  by 
Jesus  Christ,  and  hath  given  unto  us  the  ministry  of  recon- 
ciliation, viz.  that  God  was  in  Christ  reconciling  the  world 
unto  himself,  not  imputing  their  trespasses  unto  them,  and 
hath  committed  unto  us  the  word  of  reconciliation  :  Now 
then  we  are  ambassadors  for  Christ,  as  though  God  did 
beseech  you  by  us,  we  pray  you  in  Christ's  stead,  be  ye 
reconciled  to  God,  for  he  hath  made  him  to  be  sin  for  us, 
who  knew  no  sin,  that  we  might  be  made  the  righteousness 
of  God  in  him. 

"  Now  it  appears  very  fully  by  the  Holy  Scriptures,  that 
after  Christ  had  abundantly  benefited  the  world  while  he 
lived  in  it,  he  also  by  his  death  hath  done  much  good  to 
all  mankind,  beyond  utterance,  yea,  beyond  the  under- 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


191 


standing  of  men  !  What,  to  all  mankind  ?  Yea,  to  enemies, 
to  sinners,  to  ungodly  men,  as  is  clear  from  Rom.  v.  6.  to 
the  end,  as  aforesaid,  '  for  if  when  we  were  enemies,  we 
were  reconciled  to  God  by  the  death  of  his  Son;  much 
more  being  reconciled,  we  shall  be  saved  by  his  life.  So 
now  we  joy  in  God  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  by 
whom  we  have  received  the  atonement.''    Here  is  good 

will  to  men,  yea,  to  enemies." — Pages  423,  425.  1700. 

He  thus  concludes  the  essay — 

"  It  is  clear  from  what  hath  been  said,  that  Christ  is  all, 
in  all  his  people,  viz.  their  wisdom,  strength,  power,  right- 
eousness, light,  life,  peace,  sanctification,  justification,  con- 
solation, and  salvation  :  with  him  we  have  all  things  ;  with- 
out him,  w-e  can  do  nothing :  in  him  all  fulness  dwells  ;  that 
though  he  was  rich,  yet  for  our  sakes  he  became  poor,  that 
we,  through  his  poverty,  might  be  rich.  And  he  who  is 
Heir  of  all  things,  was  once  offered,  to  bear  the  sins  of 
many;  and  unto  them  that  look  for  him,  shall  he  appear 
the  second  time  without  sin  unto  salvation.  Blessed  are 
they  who  love  his  appearance  :  they  are  ready  to  say,  come. 
Lord  Jesus,  come  quickly.  Arise,  O  Lord,  and  let  thy 
enemies  be  scattered ;  make  haste  and  come  away.  Thy 
kingdom  come,  thy  will  be  done." — P.  432. 


CHRISTOPHER  STORY. 

This  worthy  man  and  his  friends  having  experienced 
some  very  rough  treatment  from  the  people  of  Canonsby, 
in  consequence  of  a  misapprehension  of  the  principles  of 
the  Quakers,  he  addressed  a  letter  of  expostulation  to  them, 
in  which  he  thus  declares  the  nature  of  the  doctrines,  pro- 
mulgated by  the  Society  :         •  . 

"  That  there  is  not  another  name  given  under  heaven 
by  which  men  can  be  saved,  but  by  the  name  of  Jesus, 
unto  whose  name  every  knee  must  bow,  and  tongue  con- 
fess, either  in  judgment  or  in  mercy ;  and  that  it  was  the 
game  Jesus  Christ  who  was  born  of  the  virgin  Mary,  in 
Bethlehem  in  Judea,  whose  life  Herod  sought;  who,  after 
he  had  wrought  many  miracles,  suffered  the  contradiction 
of  sinners,  and  whose  precious  blood  was  shed  without  the 
gates  of  Jerusalem  ;  that  tasted  death  for  mankind,  that  he 


192     ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OP  JESUS  CHRIST. 

might  be  a  propitiation  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world 
who  was  laid  in  the  new  sepulchre,  rose  again  the  third 
day;  who  after  his  appearing  unto  his  disciples,  as  the 
Scripture  makes  mention,  was  received  into  a  cloud  out  of 
their  sight,  and  sils  at  the  right  hand  of  the  Father.  AH 
which  testimonies,  recorded  in  the  Scriptures  of  truth, 
from  the  time  of  the  virgin  Mary's  being  overshadowed  by 
the  Holy  Ghost,  and  the  child  Jesus  being  brought  forth 
in  Bethlehem  of  Judea,  unto  that  day  [when]  the  cloud 
received  him  out  of  the  disciples'  sight,  all  Christians  that 
ever  I  met  with  agree  in  ;  and  we  are  of  the  same  belief. 
And  this  being  part  of  what  was  upon  my  mind  at  that 
time,  another  thing  that  followed  was,  that  after  Christ 
Jesus  ascended  up  on  high,  he  gave  gifts  unto  men,  some 
apostles,  some  prophets,  some  evangelists,  &;c.  (Read  the 
fourth  chapter  of  the  Ephesians.)  Till  we  all  come  in  the 
unity  of  the  faith,  and  of  the  knowledge  of  the  Son  of 
God,  unto  a  perfect  man,  unto  the  measure  of  the  stature 
of  the  fulness  of  Christ,  saith  the  apostle.  And  the  same 
apostle,  writing  to  the  Corinthians,  in  chapter  twelfth, 
concerning  the  diversities  of  gifts,  but  the  same  Spirit, 
saith,  that  a  '  manifestation  of  the  Spirit  is  given  to  every 
man  to  profit  withal ;'  and  this  makes  good  the  words  of 
our  Lord  and  Saviour  to  his  disciples,  John  xvi.  '  Never- 
theless, (saith  he,)  I  tell  you  the  truth  ;  it  is  expedient  for 
you  that  I  go  away  ;  for  if  1  go  not  away,  the  Comforter 
will  not  come  unto  you ;  but  if  I  depart,  1  will  send  him 
unto  you :  And  when  he  is  come,  he  will  reprove  the 
world  of  sin,  and  of  righteousness,  and  of  judgment,  &c. 
and  will  guide  you  into  all  truth.' 

And  seeing  that  which  is  to  be  known  of  God,  is  mani- 
fested in  man,  (God  hath  showed  it  unto  them,  as  in  Ro- 
mans, chap,  i.)  it  is  our  message  to  you  and  all  people, 
wherever  we  come  or  go,  to  direct  all  to  the  Spirit  of 
truth  that  convinceth  of  sin,  as  aforesaid,  and  leads  into 
all  truth.  And  this  is  the  word  nigh,  even  in  thy  heart 
and  thy  mouth,  Rom.  x.  which  the  apostle  preached ;  and 
that  every  one  that  hath  an  ear,  might  hear  what  the  Spirit 
saith,  is  no  new  doctrine,  '  for  as  many  as  are  led  by  the 
Spirit  of  God,  they  are  the  sons  of  God,"  Rom.  viii.  14. 
Why  we  should  be  reviled  and  abused  for  exhorting  people 
that  have  believed  in  God,  and  in  Christ  Jesus,  to  be  led 
by  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God,  so  as  that  thereby  they  may 


ON  THE  DIVINrrY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.        1 93 

work  out  their  own  salvation,  with  fear  and  trembling  ;  do 
ye  judge :  and  though  we  have  been  unchristianly  treated 
by  you,  once  and  again,  yet  we  do  suppose  you  know  us 
not,  and  therefore  we  can  pray  and  say  in  reality,  '  Lord, 
forgive  them ;  they  know  not  what  they  do for  all  that 
have  persecuted  God's  people  in  every  age,  such  was  their 
blindness  and  hardness  of  heart,  that  they  knew  them  not, 
as  they  were  really  concerned  on  the  Lord's  account." — 
Journal,  pages  82  to  84.  1701. 


THOMAS  UPSHER, 

In  a  pamphlet,  written  in  reply  to  some  of  George 
Keith's  misrepresentations,  declares  that  "  he  doth  believe 
it  necessary  to  our  salvation,  for  us  to  believe  that  Christ 
was  born  of  a  virgin,  his  death,  sufferings,  and  mediation, 
without  us,  according  to  apostolic  testimony." — Page  5. 

"As  to  the  Man  Christ  Jesus,  and  the  resurrection  both 
of  the  just  and  unjust,  with  all  other  articles  of  the  Chris- 
tian faith,  we  believe  and  confess  according  to  Scripture, 
and  never  did  otherwise  since  we  were  a  people." — -P.  19. 

"  My  confessing  that  true  faith  in  our  Lord  Jesus,  as  to 
his  outward  manifestation,  is  necessary  to  our  salvation, 
since  God  has  given  us  the  knowledge  of  it,  doth  no  ways 
contradict  our  testimony  to  the  sufficiency  of  the  light 
within,  this  being  it,  by  which  we  are  brought  to  saving 
faith,  both  with  respect  to  his  outward  and  inward  mani- 
festation."—P.  24.  1701. 

"  For  as  to  us  who  have  the  Scriptures,  we  say,  That  we 
are  obliged  to  believe  in  the  outward  appearance  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  in  what  he  has  done  for  our  redemption 
and  salvation," — P.  25. 


ROBERT  HASKliNS. 

In  an  appendix  to  the  foregoing  pamphlet,  to  the  ques- 
tion, whether  the  Quakers  believed  that  Jesus  Christ 
would  come  to  judge  them,  and  all  mankind,  in  that  great 
day,  he  answers  in  these  words — 
17 


1 94        ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


"  I  do  believe  that  Christ  will  come  in  his  glorious  body; 
having  reference  in  my  mind  at  the  same  time  unto  that  say^ 
ing  of  the  apostle  Paul,  Phil.  iii.  21.  Who  shall  change  our 
vile  body,  that  it  may  be  fashioned  like  unto  his  glorious 
body.  And  ought  not  this  answer  to  suffice,  seeing  'tis  true 
and  scriptural  ?  Is  it  not  enough  that  we  declare  our  faith 
in  such  words  as  it  hath  seemed  good  unto  the  Holy  Ghost 
to  leave  us  in  the  holy  Scriptures  ?" 

To  an  uncharitable  misrepresentation  of  this  answer,  he 
replies — 

"  Oh  horrid  abuse,  thus  to  render  me  inconsistent  with 
the  holy  Scriptures ;  which,  ever  since  1  have  in  measure 
received  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  I  have  and  do  most 
certainly  believe  :  for  I  do  faithfully  and  truly  believe  ac- 
cording to  these  scriptures,  Rom.  vi.  9.  1  Cor.  xv.  4,  5. 
20.  that  Christ  is  risen  from  the  dead  ;  knowing  that 
Christ  being  risen  from  the  dead,  dieth  no  more — death 
hath  no  more  dominion  over  him  ;  and  that  he  was  buried, 
and  that  he  rose  again  the  third  day,  according  to  the  Scrip- 
tures, and  he  was  seen  of  Cephas,  then  of  the  twelve,  after 
that,  he  was  seen  of  above  five  hundred  brethren  at  once. 
And  verse  23.  But  now  is  Christ  risen,  and  become  the 
first  fruits  of  them  that  slept. 

"  These  things  I  do  most  certainly  believe,  and  don't 
know  any  one  amongst  the  people  called  Quakers  that  dis- 
believe the  same  ;  and  therefore  shall  leave  the  impartial 
reader  to  judge,  whether  the  author  has  not  greatly  abused 
us,  in  publishing  us  to  be  unbelievers  in  the  first  principles 
of  the  Christian  religion,  for  so  he  renders  us  in  p.  14.  say- 
ing, '  Thus  we  see  what  professed  unbelievers  noted  men 
among  the  Quakers  are,  in  the  very  first  principles  and 
fundamentals  of  Christianity.'  But  how  wiir  the  author 
prove  this  black  charge  upon  us?  Did  ever  any  Quakers 
declare  unto  him,  or  to  any  other  person,  that  they  did  not 
believe  the  very  first  principles  of  Christianity  ?  I  am  per- 
suaded not ;  and  1  have  good  reason  for  it,  because  they  have 
been  ready  and  willing,  as  occasion  has  offered,  both  publicly 
in  preaching  and  writing  and  also  in  private  conference,  to 
declare  their  true  and  certain  belief,  according  to  the  holy 
Scriptures,  concerning  Jesus  Christ,  his  being  born  of  the 
virgin  Mary;  also  his  living  upon  the  earth,  going  about  doing 
good,  working  many  miracles;  also  that  the  same  Jesus 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


195 


Christ  was  crucified,  died,  and  was  buried,  and  rose  again 
and  ascended  into  heaven,  and  sitteth  at  the  right  hand  of 
the  Majesty  on  high,  and  is  our  Advocate,  Interceder,  and 
Mediator,  viz.  the  Man  Christ  Jesus  ;  who  also  will  come, 
in  the  great  and  last  day  of  judgment,  to  judge  the  world 
in  righteousness,  to  separate  the  sheep  from  the  goats,  and 
to  reward  every  one  according  unto  their  works. 
"  Colchester,  5th  of  2d  mo.  1701."— Pages  29,  30. 


JOHN  TOMKINS. 

In  the  year  1094,  this  Friend  published  "A  Harmony 
of  the  Old  and  New  Testament,"  containing  a  view  of 
the  fulfilment  of  the  prophecies  respecting  the  coming, 
offices,  kingdom,  and  glory  of  our  blessed  Saviour,  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ.  His  object  in  preparing  this  work  ap- 
pears to  have  been,  not  only  to  promote  a  more  perfect 
knowledge  of  those  invaluable  and  sacred  records,  but  also 
to  convince  those  who  might  read  the  volume,  that  the 
religious  Society  of  which  he  was  a  member,  sincerely 
believed  in  all  that  is  recorded  in  the  holy  Scriptures  con- 
cerning the  birth,  life,  sufferings,  death,  resurrection,  as- 
cension, and  glorious  ofiices  of  the  dear  Son  of  God. 
The  following  extract  from  the  preface  will  give  the 
author''s  views : — 

"  And  considering  the  uncharitable  as  well  as  false  re- 
ports spread  by  the  adversaries  of  truth,  against  that 
despised  people  of  God  called  Quakers,  that  we  do  not 
own  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  suffered  without  the  gates 
of  Jerusalem,  and  expect  to  be  saved  only  by  a  Christ 
within  us,  denying  the  blessed  effects  of  what  he  did  for 
us  when  on  earth,  and  is  now  doing  for  us  in  heaven,  with 
many  more  unchristian  charges,  which  from  time  to  time 
have  been  cast  upon  the  truth  and  the  aforesaid  people,  on 
purpose,  no  doubt,  by  some,  to  lay  stumbling  blocks  before 
the  feet  of  those  who  may  be  inquiring  the  way  to  Sion 
with  their  faces  thitherward.  I  say,  considering  these  im- 
putations, if  by  any  means  this  may  help  to  clear  up  truth 
to  the  understanding  of  any,  and  wipe  off  those  aspersions 
cast  upon  it,  (being  otherwise  loath  to  appear  in  print,)  I 
have  consented  to  its  publication,  and  present  it  unto  thee, 


1  96         ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 

candid  reader,  whoever  thou  art,  if  thou  hast  hope  toward 
God  in  the  promise  made  to  the  fathers. 

"  And,  in  the  name  of  God,  we  testify  to  all  men  that  we 
do  sincerely  believe  in  and  acknowledge  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  to  be  the  Son  of  God,  according  to  the  holy  Scrip- 
tures, to  be  one  and  the  same  Christ  without  us,  as  well  as 
within  us,  for  he  cannot  be  divided.  The  Scriptures  bear 
record  of  him,  and  so  we  believe  in  him,  as  he  was  from 
everlasting ;  who,  being  in  the  form  of  God,  thought  it  not 
robbery  to  be  equal  with  God,  by  whom  also  the  worlds 
were  made.  And  we  also  believe  in  him  as  he  appeared 
in  the  pure  body  prepared  for  him  to  do  the  will  of  God  in, 
and  for  the  space  of  above  thirty  years,  walked  amongst 
men,  hving  a  holy,  unspotted  life,  going  about  doing  good 
continually,  working  many  mighty  miracles  and  wonders, 
for  the  convincing  of  the  ignorant  and  confounding  of  his 
enemies  and  opposers,  and  for  the  confirmation  of  the 
faith  of  those  who  did  and  should  believe  in  his  name. 
And  we  have  also  fellowship  in  the  virtue  and  blessed 
effects  of  his  cruel  sufferings  and  shameful  death,  who 
willingly  offered  up  himself  a  sacrifice,  an  offering  of  a 
sweet  smelling  savour  unto  God  for  the  sins  of  the  whole 
world.  And  we  believe  in  the  power  of  his  joyful  resur- 
rection, ascension,  gifts  for  men,  and  new  covenant  with 
his  people;  the  tenor  whereof  is,  that  he  will  write  his  law 
in  their  hearts,  and  put  his  Spirit  into  their  inward  parts, 
whereby  he  will  quicken  them  who  once  were  dead,  and 
make  them  living,  sanctified  stones,  with  which  he  will 
build  his  church,  himself  being  their  Head.  And  we  also 
faithfully  own  Him  in  all  his  offices  in  his  church,  as  King, 
Priest,  Prophet,  Mediator,  and  Intercessor  in  the  heavens, 
now  appearing  in  the  presence  of  God  for  us.  And  that 
there  shall  be  a  resurrection  both  of  the  just  and  unjust ; 
and  that  God  hath  appointed  a  day  wherein  he  will  judge 
the  world  in  righteousness  by  that  man  Christ  Jesus,  who 
will  render  righteous»judgment,  giving  unto  every  one  ac- 
cording to  their  works.  And  lastly,  when  he  hath  subdued 
all  his  enemies  in  subjection  to  himself,  he  will  resign  the 
kingdom  to  his  Father,  that  God  may  be  all  in  all.'' 

About  the  year  1697,  John  Tomkins  republished  "  The 
Harmony  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments,"  with  "  A  brief 
Concordance  of  the  Names  and  Attributes,  with  sundry 
Texts  relating  unto  our  blessed  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHBIST. 


197 


Christ."  The  epistle  to  the  reader,  prefixed  to  the  latter 
compilation,  exhibits  so  clearly,  and  with  such  feeling  and 
sinnplicity,  the  pious  faith  of  this  devout  man,  that  I  ap- 
prehend every  sincere  Christian  must  be  edified  by  the 
perusal  of  it.    It  is  as  follows  ; — 

"  In  the  perusing  of  the  holy  Scriptures,  I  have  found 
them  to  abound  with  many  excellent  names  and  attributes, 
and  other  very  significant  sayings,  relating  to  our  blessed 
Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  mixed  throughout  the  holy 
writings  both  of  the  prophets  and  apostles,  like  choice 
flowers  of  extraordinary  virtue  and  beauty  in  a  garden, 
which  hath  been  occasion  of  much  comfort  to  my  soul, 
and  a  confirmation  of  my  faith,  to  observe  the  great  mercy 
of  Almighty  God  extended  towards  mankind. 

"  I  say  that  God,  who  is  infinitely  perfect  and  complete 
in  himself,  to  whom  we  cannot  add  any  thing,  (as  himself 
says,  If  1  were  hungry,  I  would  not  tell  thee,  for  the  world 
is  mine  and  the  fulness  thereof:  And  as  David  said  to  the 
Lord,  my  goodness  extendeth  not  to  thee,  but  to  the  saints 
that  are  in  the  earth,)  that  He  should  create  man  on  pur- 
pose to  do  him  good,  and  give  him  a  law,  the  observation 
whereof  will  redound  to  his  own  advantage,  not  only  in 
this  world,  but  to  eternity;  for  godliness  is  profitable  to 
all  things,  having  the  promise  of  the  life  that  now  is,  and 
of  that  which  is  to  come.  Certainly  we  have  great  cause 
to  confess  the  Lord  is  not  an  hard  master.  But  after  God 
had  made  man  the  chief  of  the  vfsible  creation,  yea,  made 
him  little  lower  than  the  angels,  and  crowned  him  with 
glory  and  honour,  man  disobeys  the  command  of  God, 
forfeits  this  glorious  state,  and  was  driven  out  of  Paradise  ; 
and  by  his  sin  did  not  only  lose  that  great  happiness, 
but  did  also  incur  the  wrath  of  God  upon  himself  and  his 
posterity.  As  by  one  man  sin  entered  into  the  world,  and 
death  by  sin,  so  death  passed  upon  all  men,  for  that  all 
have  sinned.  In  which  fallen  state,  we  had  perished  for 
ever,  had  not  God  provided  a  remedy  :  He  who  is  rich  in 
mercy,  for  the  great  love  wherewith  he  loved  us,  sent  his 
only  begotten  Son  to  be  the  Saviour  of  the  world  ;  and 
that,  in  the  ages  to  come,  he  might  show  the  exceeding 
riches  of  his  grace,  in  his  kindness  towards  us  through 
Jesus  Christ,  who  is  the  Healer  of  the  breaches,  the  Phy- 
sician of  value,  and  the  true  Balm  of  Gilead. 

"This  Saviour,  our  Lord  Jesus,  was  promised  and  pro- 
17* 


198        ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 

phetically  spoken  of  under  many  denominations,  as  the 
following  collection  showeth.  The  first  promise  made  to 
our  first  parents  was,  that  the  Seed  of  the  woman  shall 
bruise  the  serpent's  head  ;  yet  that  promise  was  not  out- 
wardly fulfilled  until  about  four  thousand  years  afterward, 
when,  in  the  fulness  of  time,  God  sent  his  Son,  made  of  a 
woman,  to  redeem  us.  And  during  that  time,  until  the 
coming  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  God  was  not  unmindful 
of  his  people,  but  renewed  his  mercy  unto  them  in  re- 
peating the  same  promise,  though  under  different  names. 
Unto  Abraham,  Christ  was  promised  under  much  the  like 
expression  as  to  Adam  and  Eve,  viz.  In  thee,  and  in  thy 
seed,  shall  all  the  nations  of  the  earth  be  blessed.  And  by 
Jacob,  Christ  was  called  Shiloh ;  by  others,  a  Star,  a  Pro- 
phet, the  Lord's  Anointed,  Wonderful,  Counsellor,  the 
Mighty  God,  a  Redeemer  out  of  Zion,  Salvation  to  the 
ends  of  the  earth,  and  in  Him  shall  the  gentiles  trust,  and 
a  Saviour,  a  Son,  a  Sacrifice,  a  Priest  for  ever,  a  Judge 
both  of  quick  and  dead. 

"  These  and  many  more  very  significant  names  and  at-  \ 
tributes,  &lc.  concerning  our  Lord  Jesus,  are  not  for  us  to 
look  upon  and  read  only,  but  to  wait  to  experience  the 
blessed  effects  and  benefit  of  them  in  ourselves.  To  know 
our  Lord  Jesus  by  his  spirit  and  power  to  break  the  head 
of  the  serpent  in  us,  as  that  he  did  break  the  head  of  the 
serpent  without  us,  when  he  gave  Satan  a  defeat  in  the 
open  field,  and  spoiled  principalities  and  powers,  and  made 
a  show  of  them  openly,  and  triumphed  over  them.  And  to 
know  him,  Shiloh,  to  be  our  Peace-maker;  a  Star,  to  give 
us  light  by  shining  into  our  hearts  ;  the  Arm  of  the  Lord,  to 
defend  us  from  all  the  fiery  darts  of  the  wicked  ;  a  Counsel- 
lor, to  advise  us  in  all  difficulties ;  the  Mighty  God,  to  fear, 
\vorship,  and  praise ;  a  Redeemer,  to  redeem  us  from  our 
vain  conversation  ;  also  to  feel  the  Holy  Spirit,  to  apply  unto 
our  souls  the  great  benefits  and  effects  of  our  Lord  Jesus's 
coming  into  the  world,  his  suffering,  sacrifice,  and  atone- 
ment for  us  ;  and  to  know  him,  our  Saviour,  to  save  us  from 
our  sins,  and  from  wrath  to  come;  our  King  to  rule  us, 
our  Prophet  to  teach  us,  and  our  High  Priest  and  Medi- 
ator in  the  heavens,  now  to  appear  in  the  presence  of  God 
for  us:  Likewise  by  his  Spirit  in  our  hearts,  helping  our 
infirmities  ;  for  we  know  not  what  to  pray  for  as  we  ought, 
but  as  the  Spirit  itself  maketh  intercession  for  us,  accord- 


ON  THE  DIYINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.  199 


ing  to  the  will  of  God.  I  would  be  brief,  for  time  will  fail 
to  speak  particularly  of  these  things;  but  for  the  sake  of 
some  who  may  be  prejudiced  to  our  Christian  principle 
and  Society,  1  am  willing  to  say  as  followeth : — 

"  That  we  do  faithfully  and  sincerely  declare,  that  what- 
soever our  Lord  Jesus  is  said  in  holy  Scripture  to  be,  or 
to  bring  to  pass,  either  without  us  or  within  us,  we  heartily 
believe.  And  we  preach  the  inward  knowledge  of  Christ 
Jesus  by  the  teachings  of  his  Spirit,  not  in  opposition  to, 
but  in  union  with,  the  outward  knowledge  of  Christ.  And 
likewise  we  press  the  inward  experience  of  the  blessed 
effects  of  the  many  offices  of  Christ,  not  in  opposition  to, 
but  in  concord  with,  what  he  hath  done,  doth  and  will  bring 
to  pass  without  us.  It  is  the  Holy  Spirit  we  recommend 
people  unto,  whereby  they  must  be  taught  the  things  of 
God ;  for  it  is  written,  eye  hath  not  seen,  nor  ear  heard, 
neither  have  entered  into  the  heart  of  man,  the  things 
which  God  hath  prepared  for  them  that  love  him.  But 
God  hath  revealed  them  unto  us  by  his  Spirit,  for  the  Spi- 
rit searcheth  all  things  ;  yea,  the  deep  things  of  God  : 
For  what  man  knoweth  the  things  of  a  man  save  the  spirit 
of  a  man  which  is  in  him  ?  even  so  the  things  of  God 
knoweth  no  man,  but  the  Spirit  of  God.  Now,  seeing  the 
things  of  God  cannot  be  known  but  by  the  Spirit  of  God, 
and  that  the  happiness  of  man  depends  upon  the  know- 
ledge of  the  things  of  God,  it  is  of  absolute  necessity  that 
man  be  turned  to  this  Spirit,  which  will  reveal  unto  him 
the  deep  things  of  God,  whereof  those  things  [which]  the 
holy  Scriptures  speak  concerning  our  Lord  Jesus,  are 
none  of  the  least;  therefore  to  this  Spirit  we  direct  people, 
that  thereby  they  may  know  aright  the  things  necessary  to 
salvation. 

"This  may  also  serve  as  a  further  testimony  to  our 
Christian  faith  concernmg  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  We 
believe,  that  there  is  not  salvation  in  any  other  name  under 
heaven  given  among  men  whereby  we  must  be  saved.  We 
believe  in  Him  as  he  is  God,  and  as  he  is  man,  and  as  he 
is  both  God  and  man  united,  in  a  wonderful  mystery,  far 
above  the  apprehensions  of  men.  And  we  believe  that 
the  same  Lord  Jesus  Christ  was  born  of  a  virgin,  and  died 
for  our  sins,  according  to  the  Scriptures,  and  that  he  was 
buried,  and  rose  again  the  third  day,  according  to  the 
Scriptures,  and  ascended,  and  is  set  on  the  right  hand  of 


200        ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


the  throne  of  the  Majesty  in  the  heavens.  This  is  he  that 
was  from  everlasting :  When  God  prepared  the  heavens, 
he  was  there  ;  when  he  appointed  the  foundations  of  the 
earth,  and  gave  the  sea  his  decree,  that  the  waters  should 
not  pass  his  commandment,  then  was  he  by  him  as  one 
hrought  up  with  him,  and  was  daily  his  delight.  This  is 
he  that  was  in  the  church  in  the  wilderness,  and  was  the 
Rock  that  followed  Israel,  and  he  was  their  spiritual  meat 
and  drink.  This  is  he  whose  Spirit  was  in  the  prophets, 
when  they  testified  before-hand  the  sufferings  of  Christ, 
and  the  glory  that  should  follow.  Who  himself  also  pro- 
mised his  disciples,  when  he  was  in  the  flesh  upon  earth, 
and  about  to  leave  them,  that  he  would  come  again  in 
Spirit ;  and  be  their  Comforter  for  ever.  He  that  dwelleth 
roith  you,  shall  be  in  you.  To  this  Holy  Spirit  and  grace, 
1  commend  thee,  which  is  able  to  build  thee  up,  and  give 
thee  an  inheritance  among  them  that  are  sanctified.  Amen." 


THOMAS  BAYLES  AND  OTHERS. 

In  answer  to  several  charges  of  unsound  doctrine  made 
against  Friends  in  the  year  1699,  a  short  treatise  was  pub- 
hshed,  entitled  "Some  account  from  Colchester  of  the 
unfairness  and  disingenuity  of  two  Rectors  and  two  non- 
conformist Ministers,  &;c."  from  which  1  take  the  following 
extracts,  viz. — 

"  We,  whose  n:\mes  are  hereunto  subscribed,  in  testi- 
mony against  the  unjust  charge  of  errors,  &;c.  do  sincerely 
declare  our  explication  and  sense  upon  the  fourteen  sec- 
tions collected  against  us  in  'Some  account  from  Colches- 
ter,' as  followeth,  viz. — 

1st.  "  Our  preferring  the  Spirit  of  truth  in  its  immediate 
and  powerful  ministry,  to  the  letter  of  the  Scriptures  and 
division  of  chapters,  is  not  to  deny  the  doctrine  contained 
in  holy  Scripture  to  be  of  divine  authority,  as  given  by 
divine  inspiration;  for  as  such  we  sincerely  believe  and 
own  the  same." 

2d.  [Concerning  the  law  of  the  ten  commandments.] 

3d.  "  Christ's  coming  in  the  flesh  was  a  true  example  of 
holiness,  &c.  and  more  than  a  type  or  figure." 

4th.  [Concerning  steeple-houses.] 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.  201 

5th.  '^Christ,  who  ascended  into  heaven  and  glory, 
being  in  his  saints  by  his  hght  and  Spirit,  is  but  one  Christ; 
not  two  Christs,  nor  divided. 

6th.  "  As  there  is  one  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  one  true 
faith  in  him,  this  faith  respects  Christ,  both  as  without  us 
in  the  heavens,  and  as  he  is  in  the  hearts  of  his  saints  ;  it 
does  not  exclude  him  out  of  them,  seeing  he  dwells  in  their 
hearts  by  faith." 

7th  &L  8th.  [Concerning  the  promises  and  faith.] 

9th.  "God's  own  blood,  by  which  he  purchased  his 
church,  being  the  whole  ransom  or  price,  was  his  own  dear 
Son  himself;  who  is  a  Spiritual  and  most  glorious  Christ, 
the  heavenly  Man." 

1 0th.  "  The  soldier's  mere  act  of  shedding  Christ's  blood, 
by  thrusting  his  spear  into  the  side  after  he  had  given  up 
the  ghost,  is  not  our  justification,  nor  the  meritorious  cause 
thereof;  but  Christ  himself,  by  his  obedience  unto  death 
for  us,  including  his  w^hole  sacrifice  and  work  of  grace  in 
us.  Yet  really  we  esteem  the  blood  of  Christ,  as  part  of 
his  sacrifice  and  otfering  for  sinners,  to  be  of  more  value 
than  all  the  legal  sacrifices,  or  blood  of  any  man  whatso- 
ever." 1699. 

Signed  by  Thomas  Bayles,  Arthur  Cotton,  John  Furly, 
Daniel  Van  De  Wall,  Francis  Newton,  Robert  Haskins, 
and  George  Dehorn, 


AMBROSE  RIGGE. 

In  a  treatise,  entitled  "  A  Testimony  to  true  Chris- 
tianity," &c.  written  by  this  Friend,  after  describing  the 
end  and  design  of  the  coming  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour 
Jesus  Christ  in  the  flesh,  he  proceeds  to  speak  of  the  great 
error  of  such  as  plead  for  the  impossibility  of  experiencing 
perfect  freedom  from  sin  in  this  life ; 

"  Whereby  [viz.  the  doctrine  of  sin  for  term  of  life]  the 
coming,  suffering,  death,  resurrection  and  ascension  of 
Jesus  Christ,  our  complete  Saviour  and  Mediator,  are 
made  void  and  of  none  effect,  and  the  blood  of  his  cross 
counted  a.  vain  thing,  which  is  a  great  offence  against  God. 
For,  first,  his  coming  and  manifestation  was  to  take  away 


202 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


sin  — he  then  recites  the  expressions  of  the  apdstle  John 
in  his  first  epistle,  c.  iii.  5,  6,  7,  8,  9,  10,  and  adds — 

"  So  they  who  plead  for  sin's  continuing  in  their  nnortal 
hodies  during  life,  do  oppose  the  benefit  of  his  coming  and 
manifestation,  which  was  to  take  away  sin  and  to  finish 
transgression,  1  John  iii.  5,  &c.  and  consequently  the  bene- 
fit of  his  suffering,  death,  resurrection,  and  ascension  into 
glory,  he  being  a  perfect  sacrifice  for  sin  and  Mediator,  and 
hath  power  to  destroy  him  that  had  the  power  of  death, 
that  is,  the  devil,  Heb.  ii.  14.  and  deliver  them  who  through 
fear  of  death  were  all  their  life  time  subject  to  bondage, 
V.  15.  Who  ascended  far  above  all  heavens,  that  he  might 
fill  all  things  :  and  he.  gave  some  apostles,  some  prophets, 
some  evangelists,  some  pastors  and  teachers,  for  the  per- 
fecting of  the  saints,  for  the  work  of  the  ministry,  for  the 
edifying  of  the  body  of  Christ ;  till  we  all  come  in  the  unity 
of  the  faith  and  the  knowledge  of  the  Son  of  God,  unto  a 
perfect  man,  unto  the  measure  of  the  stature  of  the  fulness 
of  Christ,  Eph.  iv.  10 — 13.  Thus  they  magnified  him,  who 
were  true  witnesses  of  the  power  of  his  death,  and  virtue 
of  his  resurrection  and  ascension,  by  which  they  obtained 
victory  over  death,  darkness,  and  the  power  of  the  grave, 
and  were  made  more  than  conquerors  through  him  that 
loved  them  :  And  gave  thanks  to  God,  who  had  given  them 
victory  through  Jesus  Christ,  and  triumphed  over  death 
and  the  sting  of  it,  which  was  sin." — P.  5. 

To  the  objection,  "  that  if  people  be  thoroughly  cleansed 
from  sin  on  this  side  the  grave,  they  need  no  Mediator  or 
Advocate,  (Sic.'"  he  says — 

"  The  consequence  is  unjust  and  falsely  deduced.  There's 
need  of  Christ  as  Mediator  and  Advocate  for  all  mankind, 
for  whom  Christ  prays  or  makes  intercession,  and  that  is 
both  for  transgressors  and  saints  ;  for  the  unsanctified  and 
for  the  sanctified  ;  for  the  first,  that  they  may  be  sanctified  ; 
for  the  last,  that  they  may  be  preserved  and  kept  from  the 
evil :  Therefore  there  is  need  of  Christ  as  Advocate  for  all 
mankind."" — P.  13. . 

He  thus  concludes  the  tract : — 

"  All  other  weighty  principles  of  the  doctrine  of  our 
Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  which  he  preached  in  the 
days  of  his  flesh,  and  are  expressed  in  the  holy  Scriptures, 
we,  by  virtue  of  his  coming  in  Spirit,  have  embraced,  own- 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHBIST.  203 


ed,  and  freely  received  and  vindicated,  in  and  through  many 
tribulations,  of  which  1  have  had  not  the  least  share  ;  in 
and  through  which,  a  divine  hand  hath  upheld  me  to  gray 
hairs,  and  hope  so  to  continue  to  the  end  of  my  days.  That 
so,  God  over  all,  through  his  dear  Son  Jesus  Christ,  our 
alone  Saviour,  Mediator,  and  Redeemer,  may  be  glorified  ; 
by  whose  power  alone  1  have  been  preserved  ;  to  whom  I 
give  the  praise  now,  and  hope  I  shall,  for  evermore." — P. 
27.  1703. 


DANIEL  PHILLIPS, 

In  a  work,  entitled  "An  occasional  Defence  of  the  Prin- 
ciples and  Practices  of  the  people  called  Quakers,"  after  a 
quotation  from  William  Smith's  Catechism,  says — 

"  From  these  words  it  is  undeniable,  that  we  do  not  only 
own  Jesus  Christ  as  he  is  in  heaven  above,  at  the  right  hand 
of  God,  in  his  heavenly  Manhood  ;  but  also  that  he  is  the 
eternal  Light,  that  savingly  enlightens  every  numerical  man 
coming  into  the  world.  To  his  spiritual  appearance  in 
man's  heart,  our  Friends  have  been  principally  commis- 
sioned to  testify  :  hence  our  adversaries  have  illogically 
concluded,  that  we  do  undervalue  his  outward  appearance 
in  the  land  of  Judea,  (^c.  which  is  a  gross  calumny,  calcu- 
lated by  some  designing  persons  on  purpose  to  render  us 
obnoxious  in  the  eyes  of  our  neighbours.  ^Ve  have  not 
thought  it  so  necessary  publicly  to  inculcate  those  princi- 
ples of  our  religion  which  have  been  believed  by  all,  as 
those  essentials  of  Christianity  which  have  been  opposed 
by  most.  Nevertheless,  as  occasion  offers,  we  have  not 
been  backward  to  publish  the  doctrines  of  Christ's  birth, 
sufferings,  crucifixion,  resurrection,  ascension,  and  glorifica- 
tion, ice.  thereby  to  manifest  his  divine  power  and  glory." 
—P.  63. 

He  thus  replies  to  an  objection  made  by  his  opponent, 
viz. — 

Objection — "Follow  the  Light  within — this  is  their 
whole  creed — the  sum  total  of  their  belief." 

Answer. — "  We  are  not  ashamed  to  recommend  all  peo- 
ple to  the  guidance  of  the  light  within.  And  had  my 
adversary  been  directed  by  it  in  penning  this  treatise,  he 


204        ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


would  never  have  published  such  notorious  untruths.  Who 
is  there  that  hath  been  at  any  of  our  meetings,  or  read  any 
of  our  writings,  that  cannot  contradict  this  man  and  detect 
him  of  misrepresenting  us  in  this  matter?  'Tis  true  we  ad- 
vise all  to  follow  the  dictates  of  the  light  within,  esteeming 
it  a  necessary  article  of  our  faith  ;  but  that  it  is  our  whole 
creed,  or  the  sum  total  of  our  belief,  we  utterly  deny. 

"JSear  the  foot  of  this  page  he  saith,  they  [Quakers] 
don't  lay  any  stress  in  the  incarnation,  death,  and  suffer- 
ings of  our  blessed  Saviour,  as  of  any  necessity  to  have 
faith  in  them  in  order  to  salvation. 

Answer. — "  This  is  a  great  abuse  ;  for  we  who  have  been 
biased  with  the  outward  knowledge  of  the  Holy  Scripture, 
do  believe  that  it  is  absolutely  necessary  for  us  to  have 
faith  in  the  incarnation,  death,  sufferings,  &c.  of  our  Lord 
and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ.  The  falsehood  of  this  passage 
is  so  obvious,  to  all  those  that  have  had  any  knowledge  of 
us,  or  of  our  principles,  that  1  esteem  it  unnecessary  to 
dwell  any  longer  on  this  subject." — P.  59,  60. 

Objection. — "  The  Quakers  having  as  you  see  thus  doted 
on  their  light  within,  you  must  know  that  they  do  not  believe 
there  is  any  necessity  to  have  faith  in  Jesus  Christ  who 
died  at  Jerusalem." 

Answer. — "  Passing  by  his  scoff  at  our  doting  on  the 
light  within  ;  to  the  following  words  I  reply.  The  people 
called  Quakers  do  believe  there  is  a  necessity  for  them  to 
have  faith  in  Jesus  Christ  who  died  at  Jerusalem,  and  they 
that  say  the  contrary,  do  them  great  injustice." — P.  71. 

Again,  speaking  of  the  sufficiency  of  the  divine  Light,  he 
says : — 

"  Though  he  [God]  can  and  doubtless  will  save  many  con- 
scientious heathens,  who  have  had  no  opportunity  afforded 
them  of  attaining  faith  in  Christ  as  he  was  outwardly  born 
of  a  virgin,  &;c. — yet  we  do  believe  there  is  a  necessity  for 
us  to  have  faith  in  Jesus  Christ  who  died  at  Jerusalem,  in 
order  to  our  salvation,  because  we  have  been  blessed  with 
the  outward  knowledge  of  the  holy  scriptures  ;  whereof 
many  Indians,  not  through  any  wilful  or  malicious  fault  in 
themselves,  but  by  the  providence  of  God,  have  been  de- 
prived."—P.  72. 

To  the  charge  that  the  "  Quakers  were  never  heard  to 
preach  up  the  necessity  of  faith  in  a  crucified  Jesus" — he 
says,  "  When  an  untruth  stamped  with  a  great  assurance 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.  205 

will  thereby  receive  a  currency,  then  this  probably  will  be 
credited.  Otherwise  1  am  persuaded,  no  man,  that  hath 
frequented  our  assemblies  or  read  our  writings,  will  believe 
this  calumniator  herein.  For  myself  I  can  solemnly  de- 
clare that  I  have  often  heard  the  necessity  of  faith  in  a 
crucitied  Jesus  preached  up  in  our  meetings." — Ibid. 

To  the  charge  that  "they  never  ask  pardon  for  Christ 
Jesus'  sake,"  he  replies — "  This  is  a  great  mistake,  for  our 
friends  do  ask  pardon  of  their  sins  in  the  name  of  Jesus 
Christ,  and  expect  to  be  saved  only  by  his  merits  and  work 
of  regeneration." — P.  82. 

In  answer  to  the  false  assertion  that  the  Quakers  do  not 
believe  in  the  divinity  and  humanity  of  our  blessed  Lord, 
he  asserts — "This  is  an  abuse  which  we  no  ways  deserve, 
for  our  faith  concerning  Christ,  as  we  have  rej)eatedly  said, 
is,  that  he  is,  according  to  the  apostle,  Rom.  i.  9.  God  over 
all,  blessed  for  ever ;  but  after  the  flesh,  of  the  seed  of 
Abraham,  and  so  truly  the  son  of  man." — P.  101. 

To  another  charge,  he  says :  "  Then  the  sense  is  thus, 
*  they  acknowledge  Jesus  to  have  been  a  man,  but  not  God, 
i.  e.  He,  God,  was  not  personally  united  to  the  Godhead.' 
If  this  is  his  meaning,  1  profess  this  jargon  is  above  my 
capacity  to  comprehend ;  but  if  He  relates  to  Jesus  Christ, 
and  my  opponent  would  thereby  suggest  that  the  Qua- 
kers do  not  believe  that  there  was  a  miraculous  union 
between  the  manhood  of  Christ  and  the  eternal  Word, 
he  is  extremely  mistaken.  For  though  we,  with  several 
of  the  primitive  Christians,  have  opposed  the  attributing 
[of]  personality  to  God,  conceiving  it  to  be  too  gross  a 
term  to  be  predicated  of  the  Almighty,  yet  our  faith  hath 
always  been  that  there  was  a  wonderful  union  between 
the  manhood  of  Jesus  Christ  and  the  divine  Word,  and 
such  an  union  as  is  altogether  incomprehensible,  to  finite 
man."— P.  103. 

On  behalf  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  he  makes  the  fol- 
lowing declaration  of  faith,  viz. — 

"  We  do  believe  that  God  is  a  Spirit,  and  they  that  wor- 
ship him  must  worship  him  in  Spirit  and  truth,  John  iv.  24. 
For  the  Father  seeketh  such  to  worship  him,  23.  But  in 
vain  they  do  worship  him,  teaching  for  doctrines  the  com- 
mandments of  men,  Matt.  xv.  9. 

"  That  Christ  Jesus,  who  was  and  is,  truly  God  and  truly 
Man,  in  wonderful  and  inseparable  union,  is  the  only  fouu- 
18 


206     ON  THE  MVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 

dation  and  object  of  our  faith  and  hope  :  Neither  is  there 
salvation  in  any  other,  for  there  is  no  other  name  under 
heaven  given  among  or  in  men,  whereby,  or  in  which,  we 
must  be  saved.  Acts  iv.  12.  That  he  is  the  Mediator  of 
the  New  Testament,  Heb.  ix.  1 5.  The  only  Mediator  be- 
tween God  and  man,  the  Man  Christ  Jesus,  1  Tim.  ii.  5. 
That  the  Spirit  of  truth  which  he  promised  to  send,  and 
doth  proceed  from  the  Father,  is  come  and  testitieth  of 
Christ,  John  xv.  26.  That  there  are  three  that  bear  re- 
cord in  heaven,  the  Father,  the  Word  and  the  Holy  Ghost: 
and  these  three  are  one,  1  John  v.  7.  That  Christ  died 
for  all,  2  Cor.  v.  14.  Gave  himself  a  ransom  for  all,  1  Tim. 
ii.  6.  Tasted  death  for  every  man,  Heb.  ii.  9.  Is  the  pro- 
pitiation for  our  sins,  and  not  for  ours  only  but  also  for  the 
sins  of  the  whole  world,  1  John  ii.  2.  For  as  by  the  of- 
fence of  one,  judgment  came  upon  all  men  to  condemna- 
tion, even  so  by  the.righteousness  of  one,  Jesus  Christ,  the 
free  gift  came  upon  all  men  unto  justification  of  life,  Rom. 
y.  18. 

"  Now  as  the  death  of  Christ  is  universally  extended,  so, 
in  order  to  fit  and  prepare  men  for  the  receiving  and 
applying  the  saving  benefits  thereof  unto  themselves,  the 
manifestation  of  the  Spirit  is  given  to  every  man  to  profit 
withal,  1  Cor.  xii.  7.  I  am  come,  saith  Christ,  a  light  into 
the  world,  that  whosoever  believeth  in  me  should  not  abide 
in  darkness.  John  xii.  46.  The  grace  of  God  that  bringeth 
salvation  hath  appeared  unto  all  men.  Tit.  ii.  11.  And  as 
men  mind  and  attend  unto  the  light,  spirit  and  grace  of 
Christ  in  their  own  hearts,  so  it  will  first  discover  to  them 
their  sins,  and  their  utter  inability  to  save  themselves 
therefrom  by  virtue  of  any  strength,  power,  or  free  will 
of  their  own,  and  then  show  them,  in,  by,  and  from  whom 
alone,  strength  and  salvation  are  to  be  had,  namely,  Jesus 
Christ ;  who  was  delivered  for  our  offences,  and  was  raised 
again  for  our  justification,  Rom.  iv.  25.  For  without  his 
light  to  enlighten,  and  his  Spirit  and  grace  to  teach  and 
enable,  men  can  neither  know  Christ  effectually,  nor  be- 
lieve in  him  savingly,  notwithstanding  the  universal  extent 

of  his  sufferings,  death  and  resurrection." — P.  249,  <fec.  

1703. 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHBIST.  207 


SAMUEL  CRISP. 

From  a  work,  entitled  "A  Libeller  exposed,"  I 
make  the  following  extracts,  viz. — 

"  Our  faith  is,  and  always  has  been,  in  that  Christ,  the 
Son  of  God,  who,  according  to  the  flesh,  was  crucified 
without  the  gates  of  Jerusalem :  He  is  the  object  of  our 
faith,  to  the  merit  of  whose  death  and  passion,  with  the 
work  of  his  Spirit  in  our  hearts,  we  trust  only  for  life  and 
salvation ;  with  his  stripes  we  are  healed." — P.  9. 

"  As  to  what  he  says  of  our  forcing  ourselves  to  speak 
with  a  seeming  reverence  and  respect  of  the  outward 
Christ,  his  death  and  sutferings ;  I  would  hope  that  he 
knows  better  in  his  own  conscience  than  thus  to  represent 
us  :  We  bear  a  true  reverence  and  respect  to  Jesus  Christ, 
his  death  and  sufferings,  and  can  never  be  sufficiently 
thankful  to  him  who  was. pleased  to  humble  himself  to 
death,  even  the  death  of  the  cross ;  that  all  that  beheve 
in  him  might,  through  the  cross,  be  made  heirs  of  life  and 
imraortahty."— P.  24.  1704. 


JOHN  BANKS. 

This  worthy  friend,  toward  the  close  of  life,  wrote  an 
essay,  entitled  "  A  testimony  concerning  my  faith  in 
Christ ;"  a  production  worthy  the  perusal  of  all  those  who 
desire  to  become  acquainted  with  the  primitive  faith  of  the 
Society  of  Friends.    It  is  as  follows  : — 

"  I  believe  in  that  same  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  Son  of 
God,  for  remission  of  sins,  and  the  salvation  of  my  soul ; 
even  he,  which  was  conceived  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  born  of 
the  virgin  Mary,  who  made  a  good  confession  before  Pontius 
Pilate,  and  was  crucified  without  the  gates  of  Jerusalem  ; 
dead  and  buried,  and  rose  again  the  third  day,  and  ascended 
into  glory,  far  above  all  heavens,  that  he  might  fill  all  things, 
according  to  the  testimony  of  the  holy  Scriptures,  for  which 
I  have  a  godly  and  reverent  esteem. 

"  I  also  believe  in  him  as  to  his  appearing  the  second 
time  without  sin  unto  salvation  to  all  that  look  for  him,  by 
his  living  and  eternal  spirit,  the  spirit  of  truth,  which  the 


208        ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 

world  cannot  receive,  as  when  he  prayed  unto  the  Father 
that  he  would  send  the  Comforter,  that  did  and  doth  lead 
into  all  truth  all  that  have  and  do  believe  in  him  thereby. 

"  Even  as  when  it  pleased  the  Lord  to  visit  me  with  the 
dayspring  of  his  love  from  on  high,  in  the  days  of  my  youth, 
by  this  spirit  of  life  and  truth,  sin  and  Satan  were  mani- 
fested; and  if  at  any  time  1  was  prevailed  upon  by  entering 
into  any  of  his  temptations,  1  was  reproved  and  judged 
thereby : 

"  But  when  faith  was  begotten  in  my  heart  to  believe  in 
the  spirit  of  truth  that  reproved  me,  1  received  power 
from  Him  in  whom  I  did  and  do  believe,  to  overcome  one 
sin  after  another,  in  order  to  a  perfect  freedom  from  it, 
which  must  be  in  this  life,  or  else  no  entering  into  the  king- 
dom of  heaven.  For  all  who  live  and  die  in  sin,  are  un- 
clean, and  therefore  cannot  enter  the  kingdom. 

"  This  is  the  blessed  effect  of  the  faith  of  every  true 
believer  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  as  to  his  birth,  suffering, 
resurrection,  ascension,  and  second  coming  without  sin 
unto  salvation,  in  whom  all  must  believe  for  life  and  salva- 
tion to  their  souls,  whoever  come  to  know  the  full  assur- 
ance thereof  in  the  kingdom  of  happiness  and  endless 
glory. 

"  I  believe  in  him,  and  own  him  in  all  his  offices,  and 
under  every  name  and  denomination  Which  is  given  to 
him  in  the  holy  scriptures.  I  own  him  as  King,  even  King 
of  Saints,  and  Lord  of  life  and  glory ;  High  Priest  of  the 
profession  of  all  that  were,  and  are,  in  and  of  the  true  faith, 
God's  covenant  of  light  and  life,  Emmanuel,  God  with  us, 
who  is  come  to  save  his  people  from  their  sins,  (not  in  their 
sins,)  there  is  no  being  saved  therein,  which  is  in  the  fallen 
and  lost  state  and  condition. 

"  1  own  and  believe  in  him  as  he  is  the  true  light,  that 
enlighteneth  every  man  that  cometh  into  the  world.  I  own 
and  believe  in  him  thereby  to  be  the  Way,  the  Truth  and 
the  Life,  and  that  no  man  comes  to  the  Father  but  by  him. 

"  I  believe  in  him  as  he  is  the  minister  of  the  sanctuary 
and  true  tabernacle  which  God  hath  pitched  and  not  man, 
who,  by  his  power  and  Spirit,  hath  fitted  and  made  many 
able  and  faithful  ministers  in  this  the  day  of  his  everlasting 
gospel,  among  whom  he  hath  been  pleased  to  account  me 
worthy  to  be  one,  though  one  of  the  least  of  many.  He 
is  the  Minister  of  ministers,  and  none  are  or  can  be  true 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.  209 

ministers,  but  who  are  made  so  and  ordained  by  Hira.  He 
fits,  opens,  and  prepares  by  his  power,  Hght,hfe^ and  quick- 
ening Spirit.  So  the  ministers  of  Christ  preach  him  for 
the  way,  the  truth  and  life,  the  true  hght,  the  door,  the 
true  shepherd  who  laid  down  his  hfe  for  his  sheep,  and 
saves  by  his  grace,  all  true  believers  therein,  who  obey  the 
teachings  thereof. 

"  He  is  also  believed  in  and  known  by  his  second  coming 
to  be  the  ingrafted  Word  that  is  able  to  save  the  soul,  who 
took  flesh,  and  suffered  in  it,  the  one  offering  once  for  all 
to  put  an  end  to  sin  and  finish  transgression,  and  bring  in 
everlasting  righteousness  :  the  fulfiller,  the  finisher,  and 
end  of  the  law,  with  all  the  types,  figures  and  shadows  of 
it,  the  end  of  tythes,  swearing,  temple  worship,  outward 
circumcision,  offerings  and  oblations,  the  end,  finisher,  and 
fulfiller  of  water  baptism  and  outward  communion  by  eat- 
ing of  bread  and  drinking  of  wine.  He  the  great  baptiser, 
having  baptised  many  by  his  spirit  into  one  body,  of  which 
He  is  the  head,  which  is  that  one  baptism  with  the  Holy 
Ghost  and  fire — and  so  John  with  his  water  baptism  is  de- 
creased and  ended. 

"  And  He  is  the  one  bread  of  life,  come  down  from  God 
out  of  heaven,  which  is  eaten  of  by  faith,  whose  flesh  is 
meat  indeed,  and  his  blood  is  drink  indeed.  He  the  hving 
substance  is  come  and  fed  upon,  that  was  and  is  the  com- 
munion of  saints. 

"  This  being  the  substance  of  the  testimony,  in  brevity, 
of  my  faith  in  Christ,  which  I  am  willing  to  leave  behind 
me  when  I  have  finished  the  work  of  my  day,  and  am  ga- 
thered to  my  everlasting  rest,  which  I  have  long  travailed 
for,  through  many  various  and  deep  exercises,  and  that 
not  only  for  myself,  but  I  was  willing  to  leave  this  upon 
record  on  the  behalf  of  my  friends  and  brethren  also,  the 
people  of  God  in  scorn  called  Quakers,  who  are  of  the 
same  faith  in  Christ  with  me. 

"  That  all  may  know  who  have  desire  to  have  a  right  un- 
derstanding of  our  faith  and  principles  that  we  are  no 
such  people,  as  to  our  faith  in  Christ,  as  some  ignorantly, 
and  others  hatefully,  have  rendered  us,  as  though  we  only 
or  wholly  depended  upon  the  light  within  for  salvation  to 
our  souls  ;  and  did  not  own  or  believe  in  Christ  as  to  his 
coming,  death,  resurrection,  ascension,  &lc,  and  the  benefit 
we  and  all  true  believers  have  thereby. 

18* 


210         ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 

"  But  blessed,  praised,  and  magnified  be  the  worthy 
name  of  tl^  Lord  our  God  forever,  who  hath  opened  and 
cleared  our  understandings,  by  his  power,  w^hereby  we 
know  him  in  whom  we  do  believe,  which  is  not  to  believe 
in  the  Light  within,  distinct  from  Christ — or  as  if  people 
could  beheve  in  the  Light  and  not  in  Christ.  But  we  be- 
lieve in  both  as  one,  knowing  and  being  clear  in  our  under- 
standing, that  no  separation  can  be  made  betwixt  Christ 
and  the  light  that  comes  from  Him,  which  shines  in  the 
hearts  of  all  true  believers  :  and  shines  in  the  darkness  of 
unbelievers,  and  therefore  the  darkness  cannot  compre- 
hend it.  So  we  as  truly  believe  in  that  same  Christ,  who 
laid  down  his  body  and  took  it  up  agaiin,  as  w^ell  as  in  his 
light  within,  and  we  have  benefit  to  salvation  by  the  one 
as  well  as  the  other ;  and  of  both,  they  being  one,  and  are 
willing  to  lay  hold  of  every  help  and  means,  [which]  God, 
in  and  through  Jesus  Christ,  has  ordained  for  our  salvation. 

JOHN  BANKS. 

Meare  in  Somersetshire,  ) 
The  5th  day  of  the  7mo.  1704.  5 


BENJAMIN  HOLME. 

From  a  piece,  entitled  a  "  Serious  Call,  fcc."  I  extract 
the  following : — 

"  1.  Concerning  the  universality  of  God's  love  in  send- 
ing his  Son  to  die  for  all  men. 

"  We  freely  own  that  it  is  the  duty  of  the  children  of 
m.en  to  believe  in  Christ,  as  he  did  outwardly  appear ;  and 
w^e  hold  it  to  be  absolutely  needful,  that  they  believe  his 
death  and  sufferings,  and  what  he  has  done  for  them,  with- 
out them,  where  it  has  pleased  God  to  afford  them  the 
benefit  of  the  holy  Scriptures  that  declare  thereof :  yet  we 
beheve  this  outward  knowledge  is  not  so  absolutely  essen- 
tial to  salvation,  but  that  men  may  be  saved  by  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  that  suffered  upon  the  cross  for  them,  if  they 
are  subject  to  his  Spirit  in  their  hearts,  although  their 
lots  may  be  cast  in  those  remote  parts  of  the  world,  where 
they  are  without  the  benefit  of  the  holy  Scriptures,  and 
may  know  nothing  of  the  coming  of  Christ  in  the  flesh ; 
for  the  apostle  Paul,  in  the  fifth  of  the  Romans,  saitb.  As 


ON  THE  DIVINITy  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.  211 

by  the  offence  of  one,  judgment  came  upon  all  men  to 
condemnation,  even  so  by  the  righteousness  of  one,  the 
free  gift  came  upon  all  men  to  justification  of  life  ;  for  as 
all  men  partake  of  the  fruit  of  Adam's  fall,  by  reason  of 
that  evil  seed,  which  through  him  is  communicated  unto 
them,  which  inclines  them  unto  evil,  although  many  thou- 
sands of  them  never  heard  of  the  fall  of  Adam,  nor  of  his 
eating  of  the  forbidden  fruit :  So  we  believe  many  may,  and 
do  receive  benefit  by  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  as  they  take 
heed  to  that  divine  light  and  grace,  which  is  communicated 
to  mankind  universally  through  him,  although  they  may 
know  nothing  of  his  coming  in  the  flesh. 

"  Now  though  we  hold  it  absolutely  needful,  that  men 
believe  in  the  death  and  sufferings  of  Christ,  where  they 
have  the  benefit  of  the  holy  Scriptures  that  declare  thereof, 
as  is  before  observed ;  yet  all  this  knowledge  will  not 
entitle  to  a  part  in  the  kingdom  of  God,  unless  they  know 
him  that  died  for  them,  to  save  them  out  of  those  things 
that  unfit  them  for  that  holy  kingdom,  into  which  nothing 
that  is  unclean  can  enter. 

"  But  because  we  bear  testimony  to  the  inward  appear- 
ance of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  by  his  light  and  Spirit  in 
men's  hearts,  some  have  been  so  unkind  and  unjust,  that 
they  have  not  stuck  to  say,  that  we  denied  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  that  suffered  without  the  gates  of  Jerusalem  for  us  ; 
which  is  a  very  great  abuse  upon  us,  for  we  firmly  believe 
in  him  that  was  born  of  the  virgin  Mary,  that  suffered 
upon  the  cross  for  the  redemption  of  mankind  universally, 
and  we  are  so  far  from  denying  him  that  died  for  us,  and 
rose  again,  and  ascended  into  heaven,  and  is  come  again 
by  his  Spirit  into  our  hearts,  that  we  hold  forth  his  death 
and  sufferings  in  a  far  more  extensive  manner  than  many 
others  do  ;  for  a  great  many  will  have  it,  that  Christ  only 
died  for  the  believers,  and  a  part  of  mankind  ;  but  we 
believe,  according  to  the  Scripture,  that  he  tasted  death  for 
every  man  :  But  we  see  Jesus,  who  was  made  a  little  lower 
than  the  angels,  for  the  suffering  of  death,  crowned  with 
glory  and  honour,  that  he,  by  the  grace  of  God,  should 
taste  death  for  every  man.  My  little  children,  these  things 
write  I  unto  you,  that  ye  sin  not;  and  if  any  man  sin,  we 
have  an  Advocate  with  the  Father,  Jesus  Christ  the  right- 
eous ;  and  he  is  the  propitiation  for  our  sins,  and  not  for 
ours  only,  but  also  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world.  Here 


212       ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 

is  the  wonderful  love  of  God  set  forth  to  mankind  uni- 
versally ;  Therefore,  as  hy  the  offence  of  one,  judgment 
came  upon  all  to  condemnation ;  even  so  by  the  righteous- 
ness of  one,  the  free  gift  came  upon  all  men  to  justification 
of  life.    So  that  the  plaster  is  as  broad  as  the  sore, 

"  JSow  although  we  believe  that  Christ  has,  by  his  offering 
up  of  himself  once  for  all,  cleared  the  score,  so  far  upon 
the  account  of  infants  and  mankind  in  general,  that  no 
man  will  perish  because  of  the  sin  of  Adam  ;  yet  we  do 
not  believe  that  the  death  and  sufferings  of  Christ  without 
the  gates  of  Jerusalem,  will  render  men  justified,  and 
acceptable  in  the  sight  of  God,  except  they  know  him  that 
died  for  them,  to  redeem  them  out  of  actual  sinning,  and 
from  those  things  that  unfit  them  for  the  kingdom  of  God : 
Know  ye  not,  saith  the  apostle,  that  the  unrighteous  shall 
not  inherit  the  kingdom  of  God  ?  Be  not  deceived  ;  neither 
fornicators,  nor  idolaters,  nor  adulterers,  nor  effeminate, 
nor  abusers  of  themselves  with  mankind,  nor  thieves,  nor 
covetous,  nor  drunkards,  nor  revilers,  nor  extortioners, 
shall  inherit  the  kingdom  of  God ;  and  such  were  some  of 
you,  but  ye  are  washed,  but  ye  are  sanctified,  but  ye  are 
justified  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  by  the 
Spirit  of  our  God.  Here  the  apostle  has  clearly  set  forth 
how  men  are  justified. 

"  Now  this  is  what  we  are  concerned  for,  that  all  people 
may  come  to  know  the  Lord  to  work  a  change  in  their 
hearts,  and  wash  them  by  his  Spirit ;  He  saved  us  by  the 
washing  of  regeneration,  and  the  renewing  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  which  he  shed  on  us  abundantly,  through  Jesus 
Christ  our  Saviour.  Now  here  is  salvation  and  justifica- 
tion by  Christ,  upon  a  true  and  right  foundation.  And  she 
shall  bring  forth  a  Son,  and  thou  shalt  call  his  name 
Jesus,  for  he  shall  save  his  people  from  their  sins.  Mark, 
that  salvation  from  sin  is  the  way  for  men  to  be  saved  by 
Christ,  from  the  wrath  to  come ;  for  we  read  that  tribula- 
tion and  anguish  will  be  upon  every  soul  of  man  that  doeth 
evil,  of  the  Jew  first,  and  also  of  the  Gentile.  There  is 
therefore  now  no  condemnation  to  them  which  are  in 
Christ  Jesus,  who  walk  not  after  the  flesh,  but  after  the 
Spirit.  As  men  come  to  witness  a  being  washed  and  sanc- 
tified, and  brought  into  Christ,  and  know  their  abiding  to 
be  in  him,  they  are  redeemed  out  of  those  things  that 

bring  condemnation.'' — Works,  pages  96,  97,  98,  99.  

1707. 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHKIST.  213 


SAMUEL  FULLER. 

From  his  "  Serious  Reply  to  twelve  abusive  Queries,"  I 
take  the  following  extract,  viz. — 

"  We,  sincerely  believing  the  divine  inspiration  and 
authority  of  the  holy  Scriptures,  cannot  deny  any  thing 
therein  recorded  concerning  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ,  his  blood,  ascension,  and  coming  again  to  judg- 
ment. 

"  We  do,  we  bless  God,  religiously  believe  and  confess 
to  the  glory  of  God  the  Father,  and  the  honour  of  his  dear 
and  beloved  Son,  that  Jesus  Christ  took  our  nature  upon 
him,  and  was  like  us  in  all  things,  sin  excepted  ;  being  won- 
derfully conceived  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  his  divinity  and  man- 
hood wonderfully  united  ;  for  in  him  dwelt  the  fulness  of 
the  Godhead  bodily :  He  was  born  of  the  virgin  Mary  at 
Bethlehem,  above  1700  years  ago,  wrought  many  wonder- 
ful miracles  in  the  land  of  Judea,  lived  a  life  of  sanctity  and 
perfect  obedience,  died  the  shameful  death  of  the  cross 
under  Pontius  Pilate  the  Roman  governor,  whereby  he 
became  an  offering  of  atonement,  propitiation,  and  full  satis- 
faction for  the  sins  of  all  men,  on  condition  of  faith  and 
repentance  ;  was  buried  in  the  tomb  of  Joseph  of  Arima- 
thea,  rose  again  on  the  third  day,  and  afterwards  ascended 
into  heaven,  and  sits  on  the  right  hand  of  God,  our  Media- 
tor and  great  Intercessor,  and  there  remains,  that  heavenly 
glorified  Man,  who  will  descend  in  like  manner  as  he 
ascended,  to  be  judge  both  of  quick  and  dead,  just  and 
unjust,  at  that  great,  general,  and  final  day  of  judgment." 
—P.  82,  83.  1728. 

He  also  gives  the  following  extract  from  "  A  brief  Apo- 
logy" for  the  Quakers,  viz. — 

"  As  do  ye,  so  do  we  also  hope  for  and  expect  salvation 
only  and  alone  through  the  Son  of  God,  our  blessed  Lord 
and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ  of  Nazareth,  believing  that  God 
the  Father  hath  ordained  him  for  salvation  to  the  ends  of 
the  earth ;  and  that  no  other  name  is  given  under  heaven 
by  which  men  shall  be  saved  ;  who  being  conceived  by  the 
Holy  Ghost  in  the  womb  of  the  virgin  Mary,  was  born  of 
her  at  Bethlehem  ;  as  also  his  holy  and  exemplary  life, 
perfectly  free  from  sin,  his  doctrines,  miracles,  sufferings, 
and  death  upon  the  cross,  without  the  gates  of  Jerusalem, 


214     ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHEIST. 

his  resurrection  from  the  dead,  and  ascension  into  heaven, 
where  he  is  at  the  right  hand  of  God  the  Father,  perfect 
God  and  perfect  man,  and  the  alone  Mediator  between 
God  and  man,  and  is  our  Advocate  with  the  Father,  and 
ever  hveth  to  make  intercession  for  us,  and  also  shall  judge 
both  the  quick  and  the  dead.  All  which,  and  whatsoever 
else  is  recorded  of  him  in  the  sacred  Scriptures,  we  firmly 
believe."— P.  13. 

He  also  quotes  the  following  : — 

"  We  own  the  one  Mediator  betwixt  God  and  man,  the 
Man  Christ  Jesus,  who  maketh  intercession  for  man  in 
heaven,  without  us." — John  Field's  True  Christ  owned, 
p.  22. 

"  In  full  assurance,  that  when  our  testimony  is  finished, 
and  this  mortal  life  ended,  we  shall  have  a  dwelling  place 
in  that  kingdom  of  glory,  which  Christ  Jesus  hath  pre- 
pared for  us,  and  purchased  by  his  own  blood  ;  by  whom 
we  only  expect  to  enjoy  the  same,  when  we  shall  rest  from 
our  labours  and  sufferings,  and  give  glory  to  our  God  and 
to  the  Lamb,  who  is  worthy  of  dominion  for  ever.  Amen." 
— Testimony  to  Authority,  in  1685.  See  Fuller's  Reply, 
p,  130,  131. 


ALEXANDER  ARSCOTT, 

In  his  treatise  on  the  "  Efficacy  and  Internal  Evidence 
of  the  Christian  Religion,"  says — 

"  Christianity  is  a  divine  institution,  by  which  God  de- 
clares himself  reconciled  to  mankind,  for  the  sake,  and  on 
the  account,  of  his  beloved  Son,  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
and  what  he  did  and  suffered  for  them  ;  on  condition  of 
repentance,  amendment  of  life,  and  perseverance  in  a  state 
of  holiness ;  for  which  end  he  also  offers  them  the  help  of 
his  grace,  and  good  Spirit,  which  is  sufficient  for  that  end : 
all  which  taken  together  may  be  called  salvation  ;  though, 
in  a  proper  sense,  salvation  consists  in  the  last,  viz.  in  that 
help  which  men  receive  from  the  grace  and  good  Spirit  of 
God,  according  to  the  words  of  the  apostle, '  If  when  we 
were  enemies,  we  were  reconciled  unto  God  by  the  death  of 
his  Son,  much  more,  being  reconciled,  we  shall  be  saved  by 
his  life.'  Again, '  By  grace  are  ye  saved  through  faith  ;  and 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHUIST.        2 1 5 

that  not  of  yourselves,  it  is  the  gift  of  God.'  *  According 
to  his  mercy  he  saved  us,  by  the  w^ashing  of  regeneration, 
and  the  renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost.' 

Now  by  considering  this  definition,  it  may  be  observed, 
that  the  Christian  religion,  so  far  as  concerns  the  great  and 
good  ends  of  its  institution,  consists  of  two  parts  ;  first,  what 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  did  and  suffered  for  mankind  in  the 
days  of  his  flesh,  without  them  ;  and  secondly,  what  he  did, 
and  continues  to  do  for  them,  in  them  ;  or,  in  other  words, 
what  they  are  enabled  to  do  for  themselves,  through  that 
help  and  assistance  which  he  is  pleased  to  afford  them. 
The  first  includes  the  several  particulars  of  his  holy  life ; 
the  good  works  which  he  wrought,  in  which  he  is  our 
example ;  the  miracles  which  he  did  for  the  confirmation 
of  his  doctrine,  and  divine  mission  ;  his  death,  by  which, 
through  the  appointment  of  God,  he  became  a  propitiatory 
sacrifice  for  the  sins  of  mankind  ;  his  resurrection,  by 
which  he  was  fully  declared  to  be  the  Son  of  God  with 
power ;  all  which,  though  the  effects  of  them  are  lasting 
and  permanent,  yet  were  then  done,  once  for  all,  and  no 
more  to  be  repeated. 

But  the  second,  namely,  what  Christ  does  for  mankind, 
in  them,  or  what  they  are  enabled  to  do  for  themselves 
through  his  help,  in  order  to  repentance  and  conversion, 
and  perseverance  in  a  life  of  true  piety  and  holiness  ;  this 
being  the  standing  experience  of  believers  in  him,  through- 
out all  generations,  remains  to  be  more  particularly  con- 
sidered in  this  place,  being  that  whereby  all  the  good  ends 
of  religion  are  answered  to  mankind  :  the  first  of  these  I 
call  the  external,  historical  part  of  Christianity  ;  the  last, 
the  internal,  experimental  part. 

And  though  1  consider  them,  for  distinction  sake,  as  two 
parts,  yet,  as  they  have  a  near  relation  and  dependance, 
one  upon  the  other,  they  are  not  to  be  divided,  in  the  influ- 
ence they  have  on  man's  salvation,  the  one  being  the  effect 
or  consequence  of  the  other,  according  to  these  Scrip- 
tures, Tit.  ii.  14.  'He  gave  himself  for  us,  that  he  might 
redeem  us  from  all  iniquity,  and  purify  unto  himself  a 
pecuhar  people,  zealous  of  good  works.'  2  Cor.  v.  15. 
'  He  died  for  all,  that  they  who  live,  should  not  hence- 
forth five  unto  themselves,  but  unto  him  that  died  for 
them  and  rose  again.'  So  that  all  the  blessings  of  the  gos- 
pel, which  are  comprehended  in  these  particulars,  remis- 


216      ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHBIST. 

sion  of  sins  that  are  past,  redemption  from  the  power  of 
sin,  being  purified,  sanctified,  and  justified,  all  are  conveyed 
to  us  by  Jesus  Christ,  and  are  the  effects  and  consequence 
of  v^^hat  he  did  and  suffered  in  his  own  person  without  us, 
but  yet  wrought  in  us  by  his  good  Spirit ;  which  I  mention 
once  for  all,  that  when  I  speak  of  these  experiences,  it  may 
be  so  understood. — P.  9,  10.  1730. 


DECLARATIONS  OF  FAITH. 

1  have  already  noticed  the  numerous  declarations  of 
their  Christian  Faith,  which  the  religious  Society  of  Friends 
have  at  different  times  given  forth,  in  order  to  clear  them- 
selves from  the  false  accusations  of  their  enemies.  1  shall 
subjoin  extracts  from  a  few  of  these. 

The  first  was  presented  to  parliament  in  the  year  1689, 
and  may  be  found  in  a  pamphlet  entitled  "  The  Christianity 
of  the  Quakers  asserted  against  the  unjust  charge  of  their 
being  no  Christians."  It  is  in  the  form  of  question  and 
answer. 

"  Question.  Do  you  beheve  the  divinity  and  humanity 
of  Jesus  Christ,  the  eternal  Son  of  God,  or  that  Jesus 
Christ  is  truly  God  and  man  ? 

"  Answer.  Yes,  we  verily  beheve  that  Jesus  Christ  is 
truly  God  and  man,  according  as  Holy  Scripture  testifies 
of  Him  ;  God  over  all,  blessed  for  ever  ;  the  true  God  and 
eternal  life  ;  the  one  Mediator  between  God  and  men,  even 
the  Man  Christ  Jesus. 

"  Question.  Do  you  believe  and  expect  salvation  and 
justification  by  the  righteousness  and  merits  of  Jesus  Christ, 
or  by  your  own  righteousness  or  works  ? 

"  Answer.  By  Jesus  Christ,  his  righteousness,  merits, 
and  works,  and  not  by  our  own  :  God  is  not  indebted  to 
us  for  our  deservings,  but  we  to  him  for  his  free  grace  in 
Christ  Jesus,  whereby  we  are  saved  through  faith  in  him, 
not  of  ourselves,  and  by  his  grace  enabled  truly  and  ac- 
ceptably to  serve  and  follow  him  as  he  requires.  He  is 
our  all  in  all,  who  worketh  all  in  us  that  is  well  pleasing 
to  God. 

"  Question.    Do  you  beheve  remission  of  sins  and  re- 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OP  JESUS  CHRIST. 


217 


demption,  through  the  sufferings,  death,  and  blood  of 
Christ  ? 

"  Answer.  Yes  ;  through  faith  in  him,  as  he  suffered  and 
died  for  all  men,  gave  himself  a  ransom  for  all,  and  his 
blood  being  shed  for  the  remission  of  sins,  so  all  they  who 
sincerely  beheve  and  obey  him,  receive  the  benefits  and 
blessed  effects  of  his  suffering  and  dying  for  them  :  they, 
by  faith  in  his  name,  receive  and  partake  of  that  eternal 
redemption  which  he  hath  obtained  for  us,  who  gave  him- 
self for  us  that  he  might  redeem  us  from  all  iniquity  :  He 
died  for  our  sins,  and  rose  again  for  our  justification  ;  and 
if  we  walk  in  the  light  as  he  is  in  the  light,  we  have  fel- 
lowship one  with  another,  and  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ 
his  Son  cleanseth  us  from  all  sin." 

For  other  extracts  from  this  declaration,  see  page  57  of 
this  work. 


The  following  extract  is  from  an  Epistle,  issued  by  "  A 
meeting  of  Ministering  Friends,  held  at  Philadelphia,  in 
the  house  of  Thomas  Lloyd,  the  17th  of  the  4th  month, 
1692,"  directed  to  George  Whitehead,  Stephen  Crisp,  and 
other  Friends  in  London,  giving  them  an  account  of  the 
difficulties  and  divisions  occasioned  in  America  by  the  se- 
paration of  George  Keith.  After  reciting  several  of  his 
unfounded  charges  against  the  Society,  they  say — 

"We  have  told  him  that  our  faith  in  Christ  is  according 
to  Scripture,  both  as  to  his  conception,  birth,  life,  suffer- 
ings, miracles,  death,  resurrection,  ascension,  and  inter- 
cession :  and  that  all  he  did  and  suffered  was  to  complete 
our  redemption ;  and  we  expected  salvation  by  no  other 
name,  but  by  the  name  of  Jesus  ;  to  which  every  knee  shall 
bow  and  tongue  confess.  This  hath  given  him  no  satis- 
faction, but  he  tells  us,  we  walk  in  the  clouds,  and  pervert 
the  sense  of  Scripture.  Then  we  have  told  him,  that  we 
would  subscribe  any  confession  of  faith  put  out  by  ancient 
approved  Friends,  there  being  divers  in  answer  to  the  like 
charges,  which  we  could  not  doubt  were  as  plain  and  full 
to  the  point,  as  could  be  warranted  by  Scripture  ;  but  this 
would  not  do  neither ;  but  it  must  be  something  springing, 
as  he  said,  from  life  in  ourselves.  We  told  him  it  was 
very  hard  that  we  that  had  been  so  long  a  people,  and 
19 


218        ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OP  JESUS  CHRIST, 

had  given  forth  so  many  declarations  of  our  faith,  should 
nov^^  be  put  upon  doing  it  anew :  and  that  by  one  that  had 
walked  so  long  with  us,  and  sometimes  seemed  zealous  to 
defend  our  faith  and  principles,  so  long  since  published 
and  known  to  the  world,  and  that  we  thought  it  both  safer 
and  modester  to  own,  as  we  had  always  done,  what  was 
already  public,  than  to  give  forth  any  such  thing  by  our- 
selves, which  carried  with  it  too  much  the  countenance  of 
an  impeachment  of  all  that  had  been  done  before." 

They  proceed  to  relate  some  of  the  many  calumnies 
and  false  charges  which  he  had  publicly  made  against 
them,  and  the  reproaches  and  a\>use  which  they  had  to 
endure  from  him,  as  well  as  the  deep  trials  and  afflictions 
arising  from  the  separation  of  his  party ;  and  thus  close 
their  epistle  : — 

"  But  oh,  dear  friends,  this  is  our  durable  comfort ;  the 
Lord,  whose  we  are,  and  whom  we  serve,  is  with  us, 
gracing  our  meetings  with  his  holy  and  glorious  presence, 
sufficiently  rewarding  his  faithful  witnesses  according  to 
his  wonted  kindness  ;  who  fails  not  to  proportion  our  con- 
solation through  Christ,  suitable  to  the  tribulations  we  en- 
dure for  his  sake.  Friends  are  here  and  hereaway  gene- 
rally well,  and  the  honest  hearted  profited  by  these  trials, 
by  being  driven  nearer  to  the  Lord  and  one  another.  In 
which  blessed  union  and  fellowship  may  we  be  all  kept,  is 
our  supplication  to  the  God  of  our  help  and  safety,  in  which 
we  take  leave  of  you,  and  rest  your  tribulated  friends  and 
brethren, 

"  John  Lynam,  John  Simcock,  Griffith  Owen,  William 
Yardley,  John  Bowne,  Paul  Saunders,  Henry  Willis,  Wil- 
liam Cooper,  Hugh  Roberts,  George  Gray,  Robert  Owen, 
John  Blundstone,  Thomas  Thackara,  William  Byles,  Jo- 
seph Kirkbride,  Walter  Fawcett,  William  Walker,  Thomas 
Lloyd,  Samuel  Jennings,  John  Delavall,  Nicholas  Wain, 
William  Watson,  Evan  Morris,  Richard  W^alter,  George 
Maries,  Thomas  Duckett,  Joshua  Fearon." 

Samuel  Jennings,  one  of  the  Friends  who  signed  the 
foregoing  document,  writing  on  the  same  subject,  says — 

"  But  he,  G.  K.,  endeavours  to  suggest,  and  would  se- 
duce the  unwary  into  a  belief,  that  by  our  acknowledgement 
thereof,  we  deny  and  exclude  the  Man  Christ  Jesus,  and 
all  the  benefits  and  blessings  that  accrue  to  mankind  by 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.  219 

him.  If  this  be  a  necessary  consequence,  it  will  fall  as 
well  on  him.  But  as  1  do  not  believe  he  ever  intended  so, 
80  if  he  could  have  exercised  the  same  charity  towards  his 
abused  brethren  in  America,  he  might  have  spared  his 
chaise  in  that  matter  against  them  ;  having  been  so  often 
and  solemnly  told  by  us,  '  That  we  did  believe  all  that  is 
recorded  in  Sacred  Writ  concerning  our  blessed  Saviour  : 
And  not  only  believe  it  historically,  but  also  that  we,  through 
a  living  faith  in  him  who  is  the  Author  of  all  true  faith,  are 
reconciled  to  God  through  him,  who  is  the  only  way  to  the 
Father :  And  that  we  do  expect  and  believe,  that  as  we 
are  preserved  in  the  path  of  righteousness,  we  shall  also, 
through  the  grace  and  bounty  of  God,  have  a  part  in  that 
purchased  inheritance,  which  our  blessed  Lord  Jesus  hath 
purchased  for  his,  with  his  precious  blood." 


An  account  of  the  troubles  which  George  Keith  brought 
upon  the  Society  in  America,  having  reached  England, 
excited  much  brotherly  sympathy  and  concern  there,  and 
Friends  of  London  addressed  an  Epistle  of  counsel  and 
encouragement  to  their  brethren  in  this  land.  An  extract 
from  this  interesting  document  is  inserted  in  Gough's  His- 
tory, vol.  iii.  p.  328,  containing  the  following  declaration 
of  faith  on  behalf  of  the  Society,  viz. — 

They  testify  that  "  the  dispensation  of  the  gospel  com- 
mitted to  them  was  a  spiritual  dispensation  ;  in  no  wise  to 
oppose,  reject,  or  invalidate  Jesus  Christ's  outward  coming, 
suffering,  death,  resurrection,  ascension  and  glorified  estate 
in  the  heavens  ;  but  to  bring  men  to  partake  of  the  remis- 
sion of  sins,  reconciliation,  and  eternal  redemption,  which 
he  hath  obtained  for  us,  and  for  all  men  ;  for  whom  he  died 
and  gave  himself  a  ransom,  both  for  Jews  and  Gentiles, 
Indians,  Turks,  and  Pagans,  without  respect  of  persons  or 
people.  And  Christ  is  fully  to  be  preached  unto  them, 
according  to  the  holy  Scriptures,  by  them  whom  he  may 
send  unto  them  for  that  end  ;  that  as  the  benefit  of  his  suf- 
ferings extends  to  all,  even  to  them  that  have  not  the  Scrip- 
tures, or  outward  history  thereof,  they  may  be  told  who 
was,  and  is,  their  chief  Friend,  that  gave  himself  a  ransom 
for  them,  and  hath  enlightened  them :  yet  not  excluded  those 
from  God's  mercy  or  salvation  by  Christ,  who  never  had, 


220        ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 

nor  may  have,  the  outward  knowledge  or  historj  of  him, 
if  they  sincerely  obey  jmd  live  up  to  his  light :  for  his  light 
and  salvation  reach  to  the  ends  of  the  earth  :  Yet  still  we 
that  have  the  holy  Scriptures,  and  those  plain,  outward, 
confirmed  testimonies  concerning  our  blessed  Lord  and 
Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  both  as  to  his  coming  in  the  flesh  and 
in  the  Spirit,  have  cause  to  be  thankful  to  God  for  the  pe- 
culiar favour,  and  that  these  Scriptures  are  so  well  pre- 
served to  posterity ;  and  we  beseech  you,  let  us  keep  to 
the  plainness  and  simplicity  of  Scripture  language  in  all 
discourses  about  matters  of  faith,  divinity,  and  doctrine ; 
and  sincerely  believe,  own  and  confess  our  blessed  Lord 
and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  the  Son  of  the  living  God,  in  all 
his  comings,  appearances,  properties,  offices,  and  works, 

both  for  us  and  in  us."  1692. 

Signed  by  George  Whitehead,  John  Field,  Wilham 
Bingley,  Alexander  Seaton,  Samuel  Waldenfield,  Benja- 
min Antrobus,  John  Vaughton,  Daniel  Munro,  Patrick 
Livingston. 


The  third  Declaration  of  Faith  is  contained  in  SewelPs 
History,  and  appears  to  have  been  issued  to  correct  the 
misrepresentations  of  George  Keith,  who  had  "charged 
the  Quakers  with  a  belief  which  they  never  had  owned  to 
be  theirs,  they  found  themselves  obliged  publicly  to  set 
forth  their  faith  anew  in  print,  which  they  had  often  before 
asserted  both  in  words  and  writing,  thereby  to  manifest 
that  their  belief  was  really  orthodox,  Sind  agreeable  with 
the  holy  Scriptures." 

After  setting  forth  their  belief  in  the  Father,  Son,  and 
Holy  Spirit,  for  which  see  p.  58  of  this  work,  they  say — 

"  Yet  that  this  Word,  or  Son  of  God,  in  the  fulness  of 
time,  took  flesh,  became  perfect  man,  according  to  the  flesh 
descended  and  came  of  the  seed  of  Abraham  and  David,  but 
was  miraculously  conceived  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  born 
of  the  virgin  Mary.  And  also  further,  declared  powerfully 
to  be  the  Son  of  God,  according  to  the  Spirit  of  sanctifica- 
tion,  by  the  resurrection  from  the  dead. 

"That  in  the  Word,  or  Son  of  God,  was  hfe,  and  the 
same  life  was  the  light  of  men  ;  and  that  he  was  that  true 
light  which  enlightens  every  man  coming  into  the  world ; 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.         22  I 

and  therefore  that  men  are  to  believe  in  the  light,  that 
they  may  become  the  children  of  the  light;  hereby  we 
believe  in  Christ  the  Son  of  God,  as  he  is  the  light  and 
life  within  us ;  and  wherein  we  must  needs  have  sincere 
respect  and  honour  to,  and  belief  in,  Christ,  as  in  his  own 
unapproachable  and  incomprehensible  glory  and  fulness  ; 
as  he  is  the  fountain  of  life  and  light,  and  giver  thereof 
unto  us ;  Christ,  as  in  himself,  and  as  in  us,  being  not 
divided.  And  that  as  man,  Christ  died  for  our  sins,  rose 
again,  and  was  received  up  into  glory  in  the  heavens.  He 
having,  in  his  dying  for  all,  been  that  one  great  universal 
offering,  and  sacrifice  for  peace,  atonement,  and  recon- 
ciliation between  God  and  man;  and  he  is  the  propitiation 
not  for  our  sins  only,  but  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world. 
We  were  reconciled  by  his  death,  but  saved  by  his  life. 

"  That  Jesus  Christ,  who  sitteth  at  the  right  hand  of  the 
throne  of  the  Majesty  in  the  heavens,  yet  he  is  our  King, 
High  Priest,  and  Prophet,  in  his  church,  a  Minister  of  the 
sanctuary,  and  of  the  true  t^rbernacle  which  the  Lord 
pitched,  and  not  man.  He  is  Intercessor  and  Advocate 
with  the  Father  in  heaven,  and  there  appearing  in  the 
presence  of  God  for  us,  being  touched  with  the  feeling  of 
our  infirmities,  sufferings  and  sorrows.  And  also  by  his 
Spirit  in  our  hearts,  he  maketh  intercession  according  to 
the  will  of  God,  crying,  Abba,  Father. 

"  For  any  whom  God  hath  gifted,  and  called  sincerely 
to  preach  faith  in  the  same  Christ,  both  as  within  and 
without  us,  cannot  be  to  preach  two  Christs,  but  one  and 
the  same  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  having  respect  to  those  de- 
grees of  our  spiritual  knowledge  of  Christ  Jesus,  in  us,  and 
to  his  own  unspeakable  fulness  and  glory,  as  in  himself,  in 
his  own  entire  being,  wherein  Christ  himself  and  the  least 
measure  of  his  light  or  life,  as  in  us  or  in  mankind,  are 
not  divided  nor  separable,  no  more  than  the  sun  is  from 
its  light.  And  as  he  ascended  far  above  all  heavens,  that 
he  might  fill  all  things,  his  fulness  cannot  be  compre- 
hended, or  contained  in  any  finite  creature;  but  in  some 
measure  known  and  experienced  in  us,  as  we  are  capable 
to  receive  the  same,  as  of  his  fulness  we  have  received 
grace  for  grace.  Christ  our  Mediator,  received  the  Spirit, 
not  by  measure,  but  to  fulness ;  but  in  every  one  of  us  is 
given  grace,  according  to  the  measure  of  his  gift. 

"  That  the  gospel  of  the  grace  of  God  should  be 
19* 


222        ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 

preached  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost, 
being  one  in  power,  wisdom,  and  goodness,  and  indivisible, 
or  not  to  be  divided,  in  the  great  work  of  man's  salvation. 

"  We  sincerely  confess  and  believe  in  Jesus  Christ,  both 
as  he  is  true  God  and  perfect  Man,  and  that  he  is  the 
Author  of  our  living  faith  in  the  power  and  goodness  of 
God  as  manifested  in  his  Son  Jesus  Christ,  and  by  his  own 
blessed  Spirit,  or  divine  unction,  revealed  in  us,  whereby 
we  inwardly  feel  and  taste  of  his  goodness,  life,  and  virtue; 
so  as  our  souls  live  and  prosper  by  and  in  him :  and  the 
inward  sense  of  this  divine  power  of  Christ,  and  faith  in 
the  same,  and  this  inward  experience,  is  absolutely  neces- 
sary to  make  a  true,  sincere,  and  perfect  Christian  in  spirit 
and  life. 

"  That  divine  honour  and  worship  is  due  to  the  Son  of 
God ;  and  that  he  is  in  true  faith  to  be  prayed  unto,  and 
the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  called  upon,  as  the 
primitive  Christians  did,  because  of  the  glorious  union  or 
oneness  of  the  Father  and  the  Son  ;  and  that  we  cannot 
acceptably  offer  up  prayers  and  praises  to  God,  nor  re- 
ceive a  gracious  answer  or  blessing  from  God,  but  in  and 
through  his  dear  Son,  Christ. 

"  That  Christ's  body  that  was  crucified,  was  not  the 
Godhead,  yet  by  the  power  of  God  w^as  ra^ised  from  the 
dead  ;  and  that  the  same  Christ  that  was  therein  crucified, 
ascended  into  heaven  and  glory,  is  not  questioned  by  us. 
His  flesh  saw  no  corruption,  it  did  not  corrupt ;  but  yet 
doubtless  his  body  was  changed  into  a  more  glorious  and 
heavenly  condition  than  it  was  in  when  subject  to  divers 
sufferings  on  earth ;  but  how  and  what  manner  of  change 
it  met  withal  after  it  was  raised  from  the  dead,  so  as  to 
become  such  a  glorious  body  as  it  is  declared  to  be,  is  too 
wonderful  for  mortals  to  conceive,  apprehend,  or  pry  into, 
and  more  meet  for  angels  to  see :  the  Scripture  is  silent 
therein,  as  to  the  manner  thereof,  and  we  are  not  curious 
to  inquire  or  dispute  it ;  nor  do  we  esteem  it  necessary  to 
make  ourselves  wise  above  what  is  written,  as  to  the  man- 
ner or  condition  of  Christ's  glorious  body,  as  in  heaven ; 
no  more  than  to  inquire  how  Christ  appeared  in  divers 
manners  or  forms ;  or  how  he  came  in  among  his  disciples, 
the  doors  being  shut ;  or  how  he  vanished  out  of  their 
sight  after  he  was  risen.  However,  we  have  cause  to  be- 
lieve his  body,  as  in  heaven,  is  changed  into  a  most 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


223 


glorious  condition,  far  transcending  what  it  was  in  on  earth, 
otherwise  how  could  our  low  body  be  changed,  so  as  to 
be  made  like  unto  his  glorious  body ;  for  when  he  was  on 
earth,  and  attended  with  sufferings,  he  was  said  to  be  like 
unto  us  in  all  things,  sin  only  excepted ;  which  may  not  be 
so  said  of  him  as  now  in  a  state  of  glory,  as  he  prayed  for; 
otherwise  where  would  be  the  change  both  in  him  and  in  us? 

"  True  and  living  faith  in  Christ  Jesus  the  Son  of  the 
living  God,  has  respect  to  his  entire  being  and  fulness,  to 
him  entirely  as  in  himself,  and  as  all  power  in  heaven  and 
earth  is  given  unto  him ;  and  also  an  eye  and  respect  to 
the  same  Son  of  God  as  inwardly  making  himself  known 
to  the  soul,  in  every  degree  of  his  light,  life,  spirit,  grace, 
and  truth  ;  and  as  he  is  both  the  word  of  faith,  and  a 
quickening  spirit  in  us ;  whereby  he  is  the  immediate 
cause,  author,  object,  and  strength  of  our  living  faith  in 
his  name  and  power;  and  of  the  work  of  our  salvation 
from  sin  and  bondage  of  corruption :  and  the  Son  of  God 
cannot  be  divided  from  the  least  or  lowest  appearance  of 
his  own  divine  light,  or  life  in  us  or  in  mankind,  no  more 
than  the  sun  from  its  own  light ;  nor  is  the  sufficiency  of 
his  light  within,  by  us,  set  up  in  opposition  to  him  the  Man 
Christ,  or  his  fulness,  considered  as  in  himself,  as  without 
us  ;  nor  can  any  measure  or  degree  of  light,  received  from 
Christ,  as  such,  be  properly  called  the  fulness  of  Christ,  or 
Christ  as  in  fulness,  nor  exclude  him,  so  considered,  from 
being  our  complete  Saviour:  For  Christ  himself  to  be  our 
hght,  our  hfe,  and  Saviour,  is  so  consistent,  that  without 
this  light  we  could  not  know  life,  nor  him  to  save  us  from 
sin  or  deliver  us  from  darkness,  condemnation,  or  wrath 
to  come :  and  where  the  least  degree  or  measure  of  this 
light  and  life  of  Christ  within,  is  sincerely  waited  in,  fol- 
lowed and  obeyed,  there  is  a  blessed  increase  of  light  and 
grace  known  and  felt ;  as  the  path  of  the  just,  it  shines 
more  and  more,  until  the  perfect  day;  and  thereby  a  grow 
ing  in  grace,  and  in  the  knowledge  of  God,  and  of  our 
Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  hath  been  and  is  truly 
experienced.  And  this  hght,  hfe,  or  Spirit  of  Christ  within, 
(for  they  are  one  divine  principle,)  is  sufficient  to  lead  unto 
all  truth  ;  having  in  it  the  divers  ministrations  both  of 
judgment  and  mercy,  both  of  law  and  gospel,  even  that 
gospel  which  is  preached  in  every  intelligent  creature 
under  heaven :  it  does  not  only,  as  in  its  first  ministration, 


224         ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESVS  CHRIST. 

manifest  sin,  and  reprove  and  condemn  for  sin ;  but  also 
excites  and  leads  them  that  beheve  in  it  to  true  repent- 
ance ;  and  thereupon  to  receive  that  mercy,  pardon,  and 
redemption  in  Christ  Jesus,  which  he  has  obtained  for 
mankind  on  those  gospel  terms  of  faith  in  his  name,  true 
repentance  and  conversion  to  Christ,  thereby  required. 

"  So  that  the  light  and  life  of  the  Son  of  God  v^^ithin, 
truly  obeyed  and  followed,  as  being  the  principle  of  the 
second  or  new  covenant,  as  Christ  the  light  is  confessed 
to  be,  even  as  He  is  the  seed  or  word  of  faith  in  all  men, 
this  does  not  leave  men  or  women,  who  believe  in  the  light, 
under  the  first  covenant,  nor  as  the  sons  of  the  bond-woman, 
as  the  literal  Jews  were,  when  gone  from  the  Spirit  of 
God,  and  his  Christ  in  them ;  but  it  naturally  leads  them 
into  the  new  covenant,  in  the  new  and  living  way,  and  to 
the  adoption  of  sons,  to  be  children  and  sons  of  the  free- 
woman,  of  Jerusalem  from  above. 

"  It  is  true,  that  we  ought  not  to  lay  aside,  nor  any  way 
to  undervalue,  but  highly  to  esteem,  true  preaching  and 
the  holy  Scriptures ;  and  the  sincere  belief  and  faith  of 
Christ,  as  he  died  for  our  sins,  and  rose  again  for  our  jus- 
tification ;  together  with  Christ's  inward  and  spiritual  ap- 
pearance, and  work  of  grace  in  the  soul ;  livingly  to  open 
the  mystery  of  his  death,  and  perfectly  to  effect  our  recon- 
ciliation, sanctification,  and  justification ;  and  wherever 
Christ  qualifies  and  calls  any  to  preach  and  demonstrate 
the  mystery  of  his  coming,  death,  and  resurrection,  &:c. 
even  among  the  Gentiles,  Christ  ought  accordingly  to  be 
both  preached,  believed,  and  received. 

"  Yet  supposing  there  have  been,  or  are  such  pious  and 
conscientious  Gentiles,  in  whom  Christ  was,  and  is,  as  the 
seed  or  principle  of  the  second  or  new  covenant,  the  light, 
the  word  of  faith,  (as  is  granted,)  and  that  such  live  up- 
rightly and  faithfully  to  that  light  they  have,  or  to  what  is 
made  known  of  God  in  them,  and  who,  therefore,  in  that 
state  cannot  perish,  but  shall  be  saved,  as  is  also  con- 
fessed ;  and  supposing  these  have  not  the  outward  advan- 
tage of  preaching  Scripture,  or  thence  the  knowledge  of 
Christ's  outward  coming,  being  outwardly  crucified  and 
risen  from  the  dead  ;  can  such,  thus  considered,  be  justly 
excluded  Christianity,  or  the  covenant  of  grace,  as  to  the 
virtue,  life,  and  nature  thereof,  or  truly  deemed  no  Chris- 
tians, or  void  of  any  Christian  faith  in  the  life  and  power 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.  225 

of  the  Son  of  God  within,  or  be  only  sons  of  the  first  cove- 
nant, and  bond-woman,  Hke  the  hteral,  outside  Jews;  or 
must  all  be  excluded  any  true  knowledge  or  faith  of  Christ 
within  them,  unless  they  have  the  knowledge  of  Christ  as 
without  them  ?  No  sure,  for  that  would  imply  insufficiency 
in  Christ  and  his  light,  as  within  them,  and  to  frustrate 
God's  good  end  and  promise  of  Christ,  and  his  free  and 
universal  love  and  grace  to  mankind,  in  sending  his  Son. 
We  charitably  believe  the  contrary,  that  they  must  have 
some  true  faith  and  interest  in  Christ  and  his  mediation, 
because  of  God's  free  love  in  Christ  to  all  mankind,  and 
Christ's  dying  for  all  men,  and  being  given  for  a  light  of 
the  Gentiles,  and  for  salvation  to  the  ends  of  the  earth. 
And  because  of  their  living  up  sincerely  and  faithfully  to  his 
hght  in  them ;  their  being,  pious,  conscientious,  accepted, 
and  saved,  (as  is  granted,)  we  cannot  reasonably  think  a 
sincere,  pious,  or  godly  man,  wholly  void  of  Christianity, 
(of  what  nation  soever  he  be,)  because  none  can  come  to 
God  or  godliness  but  by  Christ,  by  his  light  and  grace  in 
them :  Yet  we  grant,  if  there  be  such  pious,  sincere  men 
or  women,  as  have  not  the  Scripture  or  knowledge  of 
Christ,  as  outwardly  crucified,  &c.  they  are  not  perfect 
Christians  in  all  perfections,  as  in  all  knowledge  and  un- 
derstanding, all  points  of  doctrine,  outward  profession  of 
Christ;  so  that  they  are  better  than  they  profess  or  pre- 
tend to  be  ;  they  are  more  Jews  inward,  and  Christians 
inward,  than  in  outward  show  or  profession.    These  are 
Christians  sincere  and  perfect  in  kind  or  nature,  in  life  and 
substance,  though  not  in  knowledge  and  understanding. 
A  man  or  woman  having  the  life  and  fruits  of  true  Chris- 
tianity, the  fruits  of  the  Spirit  of  Christ  in  them,  that  can 
talk  little  thereof,  or  of  creeds,  points,  or  articles  of  faith, 
yea,  many  that  cannot  read  letters,  yet  may  be  true  Chris- 
tians in  spirit  and  life ;  and  some  could  die  for  Christ,  that 
could  not  dispute  for  him ;  and  even  infants  that  die  in 
innocency,  are  not  excluded  the  grace  of  God,  or  salvation 
in  and  by  Christ  Jesus,  the  image  and  nature  of  the  Son 
of  God,  being  in  some  measure  in  them,  and  they  under 
God's  care  and  special  providence.   See  Matt,  xviii.  2.  10. 

"  And  though  we  had  the  Holy  Scriptures  of  the  Old 
and  New  Testament,  and  a  belief  of  Christ  crucified  and 
risen,  &lc.  we  never  truly  knew  the  mystery  thereof,  until 
we  were  turned  to  the  light  of  his  grace  and  Spirit  within 


226     ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


US  ;  we  knew  not  what  it  was  to  be  reconciled  by  his 
death,  and  saved  by  his  hfe,  or  what  it  was  to  know  the 
fellowship  of  his  sufferings,  the  power  of  his  resurrection, 
or  to  be  made  conformable  unto  his  death  ;  we  knew  not, 
until  He  opened  our  eyes,  and  turned  our  minds  from  dark- 
ness unto  his  own  divine  life  and  light  within  us. 

"  Notwithstanding,  w^e  do  sincerely  and  greatly  value 
the  holy  Scriptures ;  preaching  and  teaching  of  faithful, 
divinely  inspired,  gifted  and  qualified  persons  and  minis- 
ters of  Jesus  Christ,  as  being  great  outward  helps,  and 
instrumental  in  his  hand,  and  by  his  Spirit,  for  conversion, 
where  God  is  pleased  to  afford  those  outward  helps  and 
means  ;  as  that  we  neither  do,  nor  may,  oppose  the  suf- 
ficiency of  the  light  or  Spirit  of  Christ  within,  to  such 
outward  helps  or  means,  so  as  to  reject,  disesteem,  or 
undervalue  them;  for  they  all  proceed  from  the  same 
light  and  Spirit,  and  tend  to  turn  men's  minds  thereunto, 
and  all  centre  therein. 

"  Nor  can  the  Holy  Scriptures  or  true  preaching  with- 
out, be  justly  set  in  opposition  to  the  light  or  Spirit  of  God 
or  Christ  within ;  for  his  faithful  messengers  are  ministers 
thereof,  being  sent  to  tarn  people  to  the  same  light  and 
Spirit  in  them,  Acts  xxvi.  18.  Rom.  xiii,  2,  2  Cor.  iv.  6. 
1  Pet.  ii.  9.   1  John  ii.  8. 

"  It  is  certain  that  great  is  the  mystery  of  godliness  in 
itself,  in  its  own  being  and  excellency  ;  namely,  that  God 
should  be  and  was  manifest  in  the  flesh,  justified  in  the 
Spirit,  seen  of  angels,  preached  unto  the  gentiles,  believed 
on  in  the  world,  and  received  up  into  glory. 

"  And  it  is  a  great  and  precious  mystery  of  godliness 
and  Christianity  also,  that  Christ  should  be  spiritually  and 
effectually  in  men's  hearts,  to  save  and  deliver  them  from 
sin,  Satan,  and  bondage  of  corruption  ;  Christ  being  thus 
revealed  in  true  behevers,  and  dwelling  in  their  hearts  by 
faith,  Christ  within,  the  hope  of  glory,  our  light  and  life, 
who  of  God  is  made  unto  us  wisdom,  righteousness,  sanc- 
tification,  and  redemption,  1  Cor.  i.  30.  And  therefore  this 
mystery  of  godliness,  both  as  in  its  own  being  and  glory, 
and  also  as  in  men,  (in  many  hid,  and  in  some  revealed,) 
hath  been  and  must  be  testified,  preached,  andbeheved; 
where  God  is  pleased  to  give  commission,  and  prepare 
people's  hearts  for  the  same,  and  not  in  men's  wills. 
"  Concerning  the  resurrection  of  the  dead,  and  the  great 


ON  THE  DIVINlTr  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHEIST.  227 

day  of  judgment  yet  to  come,  beyond  the  grave  or  after 
death,  and  Christ's  coming  without  us,  to  judge  the  quick 
and  the  dead  :  (as  divers  questions  are  put  in  such  terms,) 
what  the  Holy  Scriptures  plainly  declare  and  testify  in 
these  matters,  we  have  great  reason  to  credit,  and  not  to 
question,  and  have  been  always  ready  to  embrace,  with 
respect  to  Christ  and  his  apostles'  own  testimony  and 
prophecies. 

"  1.  For  the  doctrine  of  the  resurrection  ;  if  in  this  Hfe 
only  we  have  hope  in  Christ,  we  are  of  all  men  the  most 
miserable,  1  Cor.  xv.  1 9.  We  sincerely  believe,  not  only 
a  resurrection  in  Christ  from  the  fallen  sinful  state  here, 
but  a  rising  and  ascending  into  glory  with  him  hereafter  ; 
that  when  he  at  last  appears,  we  may  appear  with  him  in 
glory,  Col.  iii.  4.  1  John  iii.  2. 

"  But  that  all  the  wicked,  who  live  in  rebellion  against 
th^,  light  of  grace,  and  die  finally  impenitent,  shall  come 
forth  to  the  resurrection  of  condemnation. 

"  And  that  the  soul  or  spirit  of  every  man  and  woman 
shall  be  reserved  in  its  own  distinct  and  proper  being,  (so 
as  there  sha\l  be  as  many  souls  in  the  world  to  come  as 
in  this,)  and  every  seed,  yea,  every  soul,  shall  have  its  pro- 
per body,  as  God  is  pleased  to  give  it,  1  Cor.  xv.  A  natural 
body  is  sown,  a  spiritual  body  is  raised ;  that  being  first 
which  is  natural,  ai^  afterward  that  which  is  spiritual. 
And  though  it  is  said,  this  corruptible  shall  put  on  incor- 
ruption,  and  this  mortal  shall  put  on  immortality;  the 
change  shall  be  such,  as  flesh  and  blood  cannot  inherit 
the  kingdom  of  God,  neitVi^r  doth  corruption  inherit  in- 
corruption,  1  Cor.  xv.  We  .hall  be  raised  out  of  all  cor- 
ruption and  corruptibility,  oui  of  all  mortality ;  and  the 
children  of  God  and  of  the  resu-raction,  shall  be  equal  to 
the  angels  of  God  in  heaven. 

"  And  as  the  celestial  bodies  do  far  excel  terrestrial,  so 
we  expect  our  spiritual  bodies  in  'ha  resurrection,  shall 
far  excel  what  our  bodies  now  are  ;  aad  we  hope  that  none 
can  justly  blame  us  for  thus  expecting  better  bodies  than 
now  they  are.  Howbeit,  we  esteem  ii  very  unnecessary 
to  dispute  or  question  how  the  dead  aie  raised,  or  with 
what  body  they  come  ;  but  rather  submit  that  to  the  wis- 
dom and  pleasure  of  the  Almighty  God. 

"  2.  For  the  doctrine  of  eternal  judgment ; 
God  hath  committed  all  judgment  unto  his  Son  Jesus 


228     ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OP  JESUS  CHRIST. 

Christ ;  and  he  is  both  Judge  of  quick  and  dead,  and  of  the 
states  and  ends  of  all  mankind,  John  v.  22.  27.  Acts  x.  42. 
2  Tim.  iv.  1.    1  Pet.  iv.  5. 

"  That  there  shall  be  hereafter  a  great  harvest,  which 
is  the  end  of  the  world,  a  great  day  of  judgment,  and  the 
judgment  of  that  great  day,  the  holy  Scripture  is  clear, 
Matt.  xiii.  39,  40,  41.  x.  15.  and  xi.  24.  Jude  6.  '  When 
the  Son  of  man  cometh  in  his  glory,  and  all  the  holy  angels 
with  him,  then  shall  he  sit  upon  the  throne  of  his  glory, 
and  before  him  shall  be  gathered  all  nations,  &;c.'  Matt. 
XXV.  31,  32.  to  the  end,  compared  with  ch.  xxii.  31.  Mark 
viii.  38.  Luke  ix.  26.  1  Cor.  xv.  52.  2  Thes.  i.  7,  8.  to  the 
end,  and  1  Thes.  iv.  16.  Rev.  xx.  12,  13,  14,  15. 

"  That  this  blessed  heavenly  Man,  this  Son  of  man,  who 
hath  so  deeply  suffered  and  endured  so  many  great  indigni- 
ties and  persecutions  from  his  adversaries,  (both  to  him- 
self, and  his  members  and  brethren,)  should  at  last,  evenm 
the  last  and  great  day,  signally  and  manifestly  appear  in 
glory  and  triumph,  attended  with  all  his  glorious,  heavenly 
host  and  retinue,  before  all  nations,  before  all  hi*  enemies, 
and  those  that  have  denied  him  ;  this  will  be  to  their  great 
terror  and  amazement,  that  this  most  glorious  heavenly 
Man,  and  his  brethren,  that  have  been  so  ^nuch  contemned . 
and  set  at  naught,  should  be  thus  exalted  over  their  ene- 
mies and  persecutors,  in  glory  and  trAimph,  is  a  righteous 
thing  with  God  ;  and  that  they  that  suffer  with  him,  should 
appear  with  him  in  glory  and  dign^y  when  he  thus  appears 
at  last.  Christ  was  Judge  of  ^e  world,  and  the  prince 
thereof,  when  on  earth,  John  ix.  39.  and  xii.  31.  He  is 
still  Judge  of  the  world,  the  A'ickedness,  and  prince  there- 
of, by  his  light.  Spirit,  and  gospel  in  men's  hearts  and  con- 
sciences, John  xvi.  8.  01  Malt.  xii.  20.  Isa.  xlii.  1.  Rom. 
ii.  16.  1  Pet.  iv.  6.  And  he  will  be  the  Judge  and  final 
determiner  thereof  in/l^t  great  day  appointed  ;  God  hay- 
ing appointed  a  day>/herein  he  will  judge  the  world  in 
righteousness  by  that  Man  whom  he  hath  ordained.  Christ 
foretold,  it  shall  be  'nore  tolerable  for  them  of  the  land  of 
Sodom  and  Gomor/ah  in  the  day  of  judgment,  than  for  that 
city  or  people  tlmt  would  not  receive  his  messengers  or 
ministers,  <^c.  Matt.  x.  1 5.  and  see  ch.  xi.  24.  and  Mark  vi. 
11.  Luke  X.  12,  14.  It  is  certain  that  God  knows  how  to 
deliver  the  godly  out  of  all  their  trials  and  afflictions,  and 
at  last  to  bring  them  forth,  and  raise  them  up  into  glory 


ox  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OP  JESrS  CHRIST.  229 


with  Christ :  so  he  knoweth  also  how  to  reserve  the  unjust 
and  finally  intipenitent  unto  the  day  of  judgment  to  he  pun- 
ished, 2  Pet.  ii.  9.  He  will  bring  them  forth  unto  the  day 
of  destruction,  Job  xxi.  30.  The  Lord  can  and  will  reserve 
such  impenitent,  presumptuous,  and  rebellious  criminals, 
as  bound  under  chains  of  darkness,  as  were  the  fallen  angels, 
unto  the  judgment  of  the  great  day,  Jude  6.  Matt.  xxv.  30. 
It  is  not  for  us  to  determine  or  dispute  the  manner  how 
they  shall  be  so  reserved  ;  but  leave  it  to  God,  he  knows 
how." 

A  Postscript  relating  to  the  doctrine  of  the  Resurrection 
and  Eternal  Judgment : — 

"  At  the  last  trump  of  God,  and  the  voice  of  the  arch- 
angel, the  dead  shall  be  raised  incorruptible,  the  dead  in 
Christ  shall  rise  first,  1  Cor.,  xv.  52.  1  Thes.  iv.  16.  com- 
pared with  Matt.  xxiv.  31. 

"  Many  are  often  alarmed  in  conscience  here  by  the  word 
and  voice  of  God;  who  stop  their  ears  and  slight  those 
warnings  ;  but  the  great  and  final  alarm  of  the  last  trumpet, 
they  cannot  stop  their  ears  against,  nor  escape,  it  will  una- 
voidably seize  upon,  and  further  awaken  them  finally  to 
judgment.  They  that  will  not  be  alarmed  in  their  con- 
sciences unto  repentance,  nor  out  of  their  sins  here,  must 
certainly  be  alarmed  to  judgment  hereafter. 

"  Whosoever  do  now  wilfully  shut  their  eyes,  hate,  con- 
temn, or  shun  the  light  of  Christ,  or  his  appearance  within, 
shall  at  last  be  made  to  see,  and  not  be  able  to  shun  or  hide 
themselves  from  his  glorious  and  dreadful  appearance  from 
heaven  with  his  mighty  angels^  as  with  lightning  and  flam- 
ing fire,  to  render  vengeance  on  all  them  that  know  not 
God,  and  obey  not  the  gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
1  Thes.  iv.  16.  Matt.  xxiv.  27.  Luke  xvii.  24.  Dan.  x.  6. 
Job  xxxvii.  3. 

"And  though  many  now  evade  and  reject  the  inward 
convictions  and  judgment  of  the  light,  and  shut  up  the  re- 
cords or  books  thereof  in  their  own  consciences,  they  shall 
be  at  last  opened,  and  every  one  judged  of  these  things  re- 
corded therein,  according  to  their  works,  Rev.  xx.  12,  13, 
14,  15. 

"  Signed  in  behalf  of  our  Christian  profession  and  people 
aforesaid, 

"  George  Whitehead,  Ambrose  Rigge,  William  Fallow- 
20 


230        ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


field,  James  Parke,  Charles  Marshall,  John  Bowater,  John 
Vaughton,  WiHiam  Bingley." 

Francis  Bugg  having  charged  the  Society  of  Friends  with 
being  Socinians,  and  denying  the  Divinity  of  our  Lord  and 
Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  authenticity  and  divine  au- 
thority of  the  holy  Scriptures,  the  following  declaration  of 
their  Christian  belief  relative  to  these  doctrines,  was  drawn 
up,  signed  by  thirty-two  Friends,  and  presented  to  parlia- 
ment in  1G93,*  viz. — 

"  We  whose  names  are  underwritten,  being  in  Christian 
Society  with  the  people  called  Quakers,  do  in  good  con- 
science, declare  and  certify  all  persons  concerned  ; 

1.  That  we  sincerely  believe  and  confess  that  Jesus  of 
Nazareth,  who  was  born  of  the  virgin  Mary,  is  the  true 
Messiah,  the  very  Christ,  the  Son  of  the  living  God,  to 
whom  all  the  prophets  gave  witness.  And  we  do  highly 
value  his  death,  sufferings,  works,  offices,  and  merits,  for 
the  redemption  and  salvation  of  mankind,  together  with  his 
laws,  doctrines,  and  ministry. 

"  2.  That  this  very  Christ  of  God,  was  and  is  the  Lamb 
of  God,  that  takes  away  the  sins  of  the  world,  who  was 
slain,  was  dead,  and  is  alive,  and  lives  for  evermore,  in 
his  divine,  eternal  glory,  dominion,  and  power,  with  the 
Father. 

"  3.  That  the  holy  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Tes- 
tament, are  of  divine  authority,  as  being  given  by  inspira- 
tion from  God. 

"  4.  And  that  magistracy  or  civil  government,  is  God's 
ordinance,  the  good  ends  thereof  being  for  the  punishment 
of  evil  doers,  and  praise  of  them  that  do  well. 

"  And  we  know  of  no  other  doctrine  or  principle, 

*  Sewell,  in  his  History  of  the  Quakers,  vol.  ii.  p.  511,  gives  the  four 
articles  of  this  confession.  He  says  it  was  "  signed  by  one  and  thirty 
persons,  of  which  George  Whitehead  was  one." 

In  a  tract,  entitled  "  The  Counterfeit  Convert  a  Scandal  to  Christiani- 
ty," written  by  George  Whitehead,  the  declaration  is  inserted  entire^ 
with  the  names  of  the  persons  who  signed  it  on  behalf  of  the  Society. 
From  this  work,  I  have  copied  the  document.  It  will  be  perceived  there 
are  thirty-^wo  names,  and  that  G.  Whitehead  is  not  among  them. 
Joseph  Wyeth  has  also  inserted  it  in  his  "  Primitive  Christianity  Con- 
tinued," but  G,  W.'s  name  is  not  in  his  copy.  It  may  have  been  acci- 
dentally omitted  in  the  reprint. 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


231 


preached,  maintained,  or  ever  received  among  or  by  us, 
since  we  were  a  people,  contrary  to  these  before  men- 
tioned." 

Signed  in  behalf  of  the  said  people, 

Thomas  Lower,  WilHam  Crouch,  WiUiam  Ingram,  Wil- 
liam Mead,  William  Macket,  Philip  Ford,  Francis  Cam- 
field,  John  Edge,  Thomas  Hudson,  Charles  Marshall, 
Josiah  Ellis,  Gilbert  Latey,  Theodore  Ecclestone,  Joseph 
Wasey,  Thomas  Cox,  John  Bowater,  Benjamin  Antrobus, 
WilHam  Phillips,  Edward  Brook,  William  Townsend,  John 
Hall,  George  Oldner,  Thomas  Barker,  Abraham  Johnson, 
Thomas  Twinbarrow,  Michael  Russell,  John  Harwood, 
John  Danson,  John  Stringfellow,  William  Paul,  Francis 
Etteridge,  Benjamin  Bealing. 


YEARLY  MEETING. 

Although  the  extracts  on  the  divinity  and  offices  of  our 
blessed  Lord,  are  already  extended  to  a  considerable 
length,  yet  as  the  subjects  embraced  in  them  are  of  the 
highest  importance,  and  must  be  peculiarly  interesting  to 
all  those  who  are  desirous  of  possessing  a  correct  know- 
ledge of  the  principles  held  by  our  honourable  predeces- 
sors, I  apprehend  the  subsequent  quotations  from  the 
epistles  issued  by  the  Society,  in  its  collective  capacity, 
will  not  be  unacceptable.  They  evince  a  fervent  religious 
concern  for  the  preservation  of  all  its  members  in  the 
unity  of  that  precious  faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints, 
and  an  ardent  solicitude  that  the  children  of  Friends  might 
be  scrupulously  guarded  from  the  corrupt  and  contami- 
nating influence  of  those  libertine  principles  which  would 
lead  them  to  doubt  th.c  sacred  truths  recorded  in  holy 
Scripture  ;  and  that  those  on  whom  the  oversight  of  their 
education  devolves,  should  be  especially  careful  to  train 
them  in  the  frequent  reading  of  those  invaluable  writings, 
and  to  imbue  their  susceptible  and  tender  minds  with  a 
correct  knowledge,  and  sincere  behef,  of  the  saving  truths 
which  are  there  recorded. 

The  first  Yearly  Meeting  was  held  in  London,  at  the 
house  of  EUis  Hookes,  the  clerk,  in  the  year  1675.  From 
that  time,  it  has  regularly  issued  an  annual  epistle  to  its 


232 


ON  TIIE  BIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


members  ;  and  as  the  meetings  of  Friends  in  America 
were  then  under  its  care,  they  were  included  in  these  af- 
fectionate salutations  ;  which  were  sent  over,  and  reprinted 
by  direction  of  the  Yearly  Meetings  in  this  country,  for 
general  circulation. 

1G83. — "And  now,  dear  friends,  the  wonderful  mercy 
and  goodness  and  power  and  blessed  presence  of  the 
eternal,  immortal  God,  hath  been  manifest  this  year  in 
all  our  meetings,  and  Friends  wonderfully  preserved  by 
his  special  divine  providence  in  this  difficult  and  suffering 
time.  The  Lord  our  God  is  worthy  to  have  all  the  praise, 
glory,  and  honour,  for  his  presence  and  power  was  mani- 
fest beyond  words  1  Blessed  be  his  name  for  ever  !  And 
therefore  that  all  may  walk  worthy  of  his  blessings  and 
mercies  !  A'nd  that  all  may  keep  and  walk  in  Christ  Jesus, 
the  Sanctuary  !  For  in  him  is  peace  and  safety,  who  de- 
stroys the  destroyer,  the  enmity  and  adversary.  For  Christ 
is  your  Sanctuary  in  this  day  of  storm  and  tempest,  in 
whom  you  have  rest  and  peace  :  And  therefore  whatever 
storms  and  tempests  do  or  should  arise  within  or  without, 
Christ  your  Sanctuary,  is  over  them  all  ;  who  has  all 
power  in  heaven  and  earth  given  unto  him,  and  none  is 
able  to  pluck  his  lambs  and  sheep  out  of  his  Father's  or 
his  hand  ;  who  is  the  true  Shepherd  ;  neither  are  any  able 
to  hurt  the  hair  of  your  head,  except  it  be  permitted  by  his 
power  for  your  trial.  And  therefore  rejoice  in  his  power, 
the  Lamb  of  God,  who  hath  the  victory  over  all,  both 
within  and  without.  He  by  whom  all  things  were  made, 
and  is  over  all,  the  First  and  the  Last,  the  Amen.  And  the 
faithful  and  true  Witness  in  all  his,  males  and  females,  the 
heavenly  Rock  and  Foundation,  for  all  the  believers  in  the 
light,  and  all  the  children  of  the  day,  to  build  upon,  to 
stand  sure." 

1697. — "  Unto  which  blessed  Word  we  commit  and 
commend  you,  to  be  supplied  and  preserved  to  the  end  ; 
whereby  you  may  add  to  your  faith  that  has  been  begotten 
thereby,  virtue,  and  to  your  virtue,  knowledge,  and  to 
knowledge  temperance,  to  temperance  patience,  to  patience 
godliness,  to  godliness  brotherly  kindness,  and  to  brotherly 
kindness  charity  :  For  if  these  things  be  in  you  and  abound, 
they  make  you  that  ye  shall  he  neither  barren  nor  unfruit- 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


233 


ful  in  the  knowledge  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  faithful 
Witness,  the  First-begotten  from  the  dead,  the  Prince  of 
the  kings  of  the  earth.  Unto  him  that  loved,  and  washed 
us  from  our  sins  in  his  own  blood,  be  glory  and  dominion 
for  ever." 

1712.  — We  also  exhort  all  parents  of  children  to  be 
very  careful  to  educate  and  train  them  up  in  the  fear  of 
God,  and  knowledge  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ, 
according  to  the  holy  Scriptures." 

1713.  — "  The  salutation  of  love  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
our  peaceable  Saviour  and  blessed  Mediator,  is  extended 
unto  you,  heartily  wishing  that  grace,  mercy  and  peace 
may  abound  among  us  all ;  and  in  all  the  churches  of  Christ 
every  where,  that  the  Spring  of  life  and  sincere  love  may 
yet  arise  and  flow  through  all,  for  perfect  unity  of  spirit  in 
the  bond  of  true,  lasting  peace  and  concord." 

1715. — "The  Lord  is  one,  and  his  name,  power,  and 
Spirit,  one  ;  and  he  hath  called  us  to  be  one  in  charity,  in 
principle^  and  in  practice.  Let  us  all,  therefore,  diligently 
follow  and  pursue  the  same,  according  to  the  degrees  of 
that  divine  grace,  wisdom,  and  understanding,  given  us  of 
God  through  the  dear  Son  of  his  love,  Jesus  Christ  our 
only  Mediator." 

1722.  — "Finally,  dear  brethren  and  sisters,  we  recom- 
mend you  all  to  our  most  gracious  God  and  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ,  to  preserve  you  in  his  love  and  peace,  and  humbly 
desire  you  may  all  continue  therein,  with  a  godly  care  to 
discharge  and  keep  a  pure  conscience,  as  Christian  exam- 
ples in  life  and  practice,  that  the  God  of  love  and  peace 
may  continue  his  presence  with  you.  To  whom  be  glory, 
dominion  and  praise  through  Jesus  Christ  for  ever  and 
ever." 

1723.  — "And,  dear  friends,  this  meeting  considering 
that  some  in  the  present  age  do  endeavour,  as  well  by 
certain  books,  as  a  licentious  conversation,  to  lessen  and 
decry  the  true  faith  in  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ, 
even  that  precious  faith  once  delivered  to  his  saints, 
which  by  the  mercy  of  God,  is  also  bestowed  upon  us, 

20* 


234        ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESrS  CHRIST, 


do  therefore  earnestly  advise  and  exhort  all  parents,  mas- 
ters and  mistresses  of  families,  and  guardians  of  minors, 
that  they  prevent,  as  much  as  in  them  lies,  their  children, 
servants,  and  youth  under  their  respective  care  and  tuition, 
from  having  or  reading  books  or  papers,  that  have  any 
tendency  to  prejudice  the  profession  of  the  Christian  reli- 
gion, to  create  in  them  the  least  doubt  or  question  con- 
cerning the  truth  of  the  holy  Scripture,  or  those  necessary 
and  saving  truths  declared  in  them,  lest  their  infant  and 
feeble  minds  should  be  poisoned  thereby,  and  a  foundation 
laid  for  the  greatest  evils."  See  also  the  Discipline  of  Phi- 
ladelphia, New  England,  New  York,  Baltimore,  Ohio,  and 
Indiana  yearly  meetings. 

1732. — "And,  dear  friends,  we  tenderly  and  earnestly 
advise  and  exhort  all  parents  and  masters  of  famihes,  that 
they  exert  themselves  in  the  wisdom  of  God,  and  in  the 
strength  of  his  love,  to  instruct  their  children  and  families 
in  the  doctrines  and  precepts  of  the  Christian  religion  con- 
tained in  the  holy  Scriptures,  and  that  they  excite  them  to 
the  diligent  reading  of  those  sacred  writings,  which  plainly 
set  forth  the  miraculous  conception,  birth,  holy  life,  won- 
derful works,  blessed  example,  meritorious  death,  and  glo- 
rious resurrection,  ascension,  and  mediation  of  our  Lord 
and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ ;  and  to  educate  thdr  children  in 
the  belief  of  those  important  truths,  as  well  as  in  the  behcf 
of  the  inward  manifestation  and  operation  of  the  Spirit  of 
God  on  their  own  minds,  that  they  may  reap  the  benefit 
and  advantage  thereof,  for  their  own  peace  and  everlast- 
ing happiness,  which  is  infinitely  preferable  to  all  other 
considerations.  We  therefore  exhort,  in  the  most  earnest 
manner  that  all  be  very  careful  in  this  respect,  a  neglect 
herein  being,  in  our  judgment  very  blameworthy."  See 
the  Discipline  of  Philadelphia,  New  England,  New  York, 
Baltimore,  Ohio,  and  Indiana  yearly  meetings,  where  the 
substance  of  the  above  extract  is  inserted. 

1736. — "  And,  dear  friends,  in  order  that  as  we  have  re- 
ceived Christ,  so  we  may  walk  in  him,  in  all  holiness  and 
godliness  of  conversation,  we  earnestly  exhort  that  ye  hold 
jfast  the  profession  of  the  faith  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
without  wavering,  both  in  respect  to  his  outward  coming 
in  the  flesh,  his  sufiTerings,  death,  resurrection,  ascension, 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


235 


mediation,  and  intercession  at  the  right  hand  of  the  Father, 
and  to  the  inward  nnanifestation  of  his  grace  and  Holy 
Spirit  in  our  hearts,  powerfully  working  in  the  soul  of  man 
to  the  subduing  every  evil  affection  and  lust,  and  to  the 
purifying  of  our  consciences  from  dead  works  to  serve  the 
living  God ;  and  that  through  the  virtue  and  efficacy  of 
this  most  holy  faith,  ye  may  become  strong  in  the  Lord, 
and  in  the  power  of  his  might." 

1750. — "  And,  dear  friends,  we  earnestly  exhort  and  en- 
treat you  to  abide  stedfast  in  the  faith  of  our  Lord  and 
Saviour  Jesus  Christ:  and  to  take  heed  lest  any  of  you  be 
seduced  by  the  craft  and  subtilty  of  designing  men,  some  of 
whom  have  published  books  tending  to  alienate  the  minds 
of  men  from  the  true  and  saving  faith,  and  to  lead  them  to 
a  disesteem  of  the  holy  Scriptures,  and  the  principles  of  the 
Christian  religion  therein  contained.  Beware,  lest  any  of 
you  who  profess  to  follow  the  light  of  Christ,  be  drawn 
aside  from  the  simplicity  of  his  truth,  and  diverted  from 
your  obedience  to  his  holy  cross,  by  imbibing  such  prin- 
ciples as  would  promote  a  disbelief  of  his  gospel,  and  of 
the  important  doctrines  revealed  in  the  holy  Scriptures, 
necessary  to  be  believed  in  order  to  the  salvation  of  those 
to  whom  they  are  so  revealed.  And  as  the  doctrine  of 
future  rewards  and  punishments  is  clearly  declared  of  in 
holy  AVrit,  and  is  a  doclrine  of  the  Christian  religion 
tending  to  excite  men  to  the  practice  of  virtue,  and  deter 
them  from  vice,  beware  lest  any  of  you  be  drawn  aside 
from  the  purity  of  the  faith  in  this  respect,  into  a  perni- 
cious and  dangerous  error.  But  follow  ye  the  guidance 
of  the  light  of  Christ,  which  only  can  infallibly  secure  you 
from  being  led  away  by  the  error  of  the  wicked,  and  falling 
from  your  own  steadfastness." 

1758. — "  Grace  be  unto  you,  and  peace,  from  Him  which 
is,  and  which  was,  and  which  is  to  come,  and  from  Jesus 
Christ,  who  is  the  faithful  Witness,  and  the  Prince  of  the 
kings  of  the  earth :  To  whom,  with  the  Father,  be  glory 
and  dominion  for  ever  and  ever.  Amen.'' 

1 760. — "  We  therefore  earnestly  entreat  that  it  may  be 
the  constant  care  of  all  parents,  guardians,  masters,  and 
mistresses,  properly  to  teach,  restrain,  and  example  those 


236        ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 

whom  Providence  hath  placed  under  them,  for  their  help, 
direction,  and  preservation,  and  for  whom  an  account 
must  be  rendered,  bringing  them  up  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord, 
and  in  that  sobriety,  moderation,  and  plainness  in  speech, 
apparel,  and  deportment,  which  becomes  a  people  pro- 
fessing to  be  the  followers  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the 
perfect  pattern  of  humility  and  self-denial,  '  who  made 
himself  of  no  reputation,  but  took  upon  him  the  form  of  a 
servant,'  yet  is  styled  in  the  holy  Scriptures,  '  the  blessed 
and  only  Potentate,  the  King  of  kings  and  Lord  of  lords, 
who  only  hath  immortality,  dwelling  in  the  light/' 

"  Thus  shall  we  be  gathered  to  him,  in  whom  the  medi- 
ation and  acceptance  with  the  Father  stands,  and  being 
enriched  with  the  durable  treasures  that  are  hid  in  Christ 
Jesus,  be  experimentally  united  to  those  who  are  come 
unto  mount  Zion,  and  unto  the  city  of  the  living  God,  the 
heavenly  Jerusalem,  and  to  an  innumerable  company  of 
angels,  to  the  general  assembly  of  the  church  of  the  first 
born  which  are  written  in  heaven,  and  to  God  the  judge 
of  all :  To  whom,  with  Jesus,  the  Mediator  of  the  new 
covenant,  be  all  honour  and  glory  for  ever.  Amen." 


DISCIPLINE. 

It  appears  from  the  ancient  records  of  the  religious  So- 
ciety of  Friends,  that  at  a  very  early  period  after  its  rise,  a 
fervent  concern  was  manifested  by  the  body,  for  the  pre- 
servation of  its  members  in  the  unity  of  the  blessed  faith  of 
the  gospel.  A  godly  care  was  also  exercised  to  guard 
against  the  promulgation  of  those  unsound  and  speculative 
notions,  which,  under  various  alluring  and  specious  forms, 
the  deceitful  adversary  of  man's  happiness  is  so  often  pre- 
senting to  the  active  and  inquiring  mind,  to  beguile  the  un- 
wary and  draw  them  from  their  love  and  allegiance  to 
Christ  Jesus,  the  Shepherd  and  Bishop  of  souls.  Our 
worthy  Friends  were  fully  aware  of  the  danger  there  is,  in 
endeavouring  to  fathom  the  inscrutable  counsels  of  an  all- 
wise  and  incomprehensible  God,  by  the  finite  powers  of 
human  reason  :  and  in  attempting  to  explain  away,  or  to 
accommodate,  the  awful  "  mysteries  of  the  kingdom  of 
heaven"  to  the  narrow  conceptions  of  men.    They  there- 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


237 


fore  encouraged  their  members  to  exercise  that  humble, 
confiding  faith,  which  works  by  love  ;  and  which,  without 
seeking  to  comprehend  "  the  why  and  the  wherefore,"  de- 
lights in  simple  obedience  to  the  will  of  God  ;  and  in  ex- 
pressing their  views  on  doctrinal  points,  to  keep  close  to 
the  plain  and  explicit  language  of  the  holy  Scriptures,  rely- 
ing upon  their  divine  testimony,  as  the  most  authentic  and 
perfect  declaration  of  Christian  faith,  containing  a  suffi- 
cient explanation  of  all  things,  necessary  to  be  believed,  in 
order  to  salvation. 

But  for  want  of  due  attention  to  this  salutary  counsel, 
and  a  reverent  dependance  on  the  unfoldings  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  of  Christ,  some  who  had  made  profession  of  the 
truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  and  through  divine  assistance,  walked 
worthily  for  a  time,  left  their  first  love,  and  were  drawn 
out  into  reasoning  on  religious  truths.  Thus  their  minds 
became  darkened  with  vain  and  foolish  imaginations,  set- 
ting up  their  own  fallen  reason  above  the  pure  witness  for 
God,  and  disregarding  the  sacred  truths  recorded  in  the 
holy  Scriptures,  by  which  means  thfey  were  led  into  many 
gross  errors  both  in  doctrine  and  practice.  After  the  una- 
vailing extension  of  patient,  Christian  labour,  for  the  con- 
vincement  and  recovery  of  such,  it  became  the  duty  of  the 
faithful  members  to  bear  their  testimony  against  their  errors 
and  to  separate  from  their  communion  those  who  had  un- 
happily become  contaminated  with  them.  Of  this  number 
was  Jeffery  Bullock,  whose  disownment  from  the  Society 
of  Friends  I  have  already  noticed,  in  the  extracts  from  the 
writings  of  Giles  Barnardiston.  Amongst  other  offences 
against  the  doctrine  and  discipline  of  the  church,  he  pub- 
lished several  books  in  opposition  to  the  principles  of 
Friends,  in  which  he  denies  that  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who 
W'as  crucified  at  Jerusalem,  is  the  Saviour  and  Judge  of 
the  world,  and  also  rejects  the  propitiatory  sacrifice  which 
He  there  offered  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world. 

The  Society  of  Friends  in  the  present  day  may  derive 
an  instructive  warning  from  the  fact,  that  he  promulgated 
these  dangerous  errors,  under  the  specious  profession  of 
greater  spiritual  light  and  knowledge  than  had  been  vouch- 
safed to  the  righteous  in  former  ages,  and  with  the  plausi- 
ble pretext  of  exalting  the  light  within,  as  the  only  Saviour ; 
disregarding  the  sacred  testimony  of  the  holy  Scriptures, 
and  other  instrumental  means,  which,  in  the  wisdom  and 


238        ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OP  JESUS  CHRIST. 

goodness  of  the  blessed  head  of  the  church,  have  been  of- 
fered for  our  instruction  and  comfort,  that  the  man  of  God 
might  be  made  perfect,  thoroughly  furnished  unto  every 
good  work. 

The  effects  of  this  spirit  of  self-exaltation  and  unbelief, 
became  mournfully  obvious,  not  only  in  the  unscriptural 
notions  which  he  promulgated,  but  also  in  his  opposition 
to  the  good  order  and  government  instituted  in  the  church, 
w^hich  he  denounced  as  tyranny,  oppression,  and  usurpa- 
tion of  power,  declaring  that  every  man  should  be  left  to 
the  guidance  of  the  spirit  of  truth  in  himself.  Against 
those  faithful  elders  whose  duty  it  was  to  administer  coun- 
sel and  reproof,  in  meekness  and  wisdom,  and  to  labour 
with  him,  in  order  to  reclaim  him  from  the  delusions  into 
which  his  self-confidence  had  betrayed  him,  he  inveighed 
with  much  acrimony,  and  persisted  in  imposing  himself 
upon  his  brethren,  after  they  had  testified  their  disunity 
with  his  Yninistry.  These  deviations  led  to  other  prac- 
tices inconsistent  with  the  testimonies  held  by  Friends, 
and  he  violated  their  Well  known  scruple  against  taking 
oaths. 

The  Society  has  uniformly  asserted  as  its  behef,  that  the 
light  of  Christ  Jesus  revealed  in  the  soul,  would  always 
lead  his  humble  disciples  sincerely  to  believe  all  that  is 
recorded  in  the  sacred  writings  concerning  him,  and  reve- 
rently to  adore  the  unspeakable  mercy  of  a  gracious  and 
long  suffering  God,  in  giving  his  beloved  and  only  begotten 
Son  into  the  world,  for  the  salvation  of  sinners  ;  and  also 
to  acknowledge  with  heartfelt  gratitude,  the  amazing  con- 
descension of  our  blessed  Redeemer,  in  offering  himself  up 
to  the  ignominious  and  cruel  death  of  the  cross,  a  voluntary 
sacrifice  and  atonement  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world.  It 
was  therefore  consistent  and  proper,  lhat  Friends  should 
openly  disavow  and  deny  the  pretended  revelations  of  a  de- 
luded man,which  were  not  only  incompatible  with  their  own 
acknowledged  principles,  but  also  inconsistent  with  the 
concurrent  testimony  of  the  holy  Scriptures. 

The  following  testimony  issued  against  him  by  the  Men's 
meeting  of  Haverhill,  is  a  very  important  document.  It 
shows  clearly  the  soundness  of  the  faith  of  our  early  Friends 
in  relation  to  the  Divinity  and  offices  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  and  their  care  to  testify  against  every  appearance  of 
defection  from  Christian  doctrine  in  any  of  their  members. 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


239 


The  copy  was  taken  from  the  records  of  the  meeting,  the 
latter  end  of  last  year,  and  is  certified  by  two  persons  resi- 
dent at  Sudbury,  the  place  where  J.  Bullock  lived.  It 
appears  that  there  were  other  testimonies  issued  against 
him,  but  copies  of  them  have  not  yet  been  received. 

"  For  the  clearing  of  the  precious  truth  of  God,  professed 
by  us,  his  people  called  Quakers,  from  the  occasion  of 
stumbling  and  reproach  given  by  Jeffery  Bullock's  perni- 
cious doctrine,  in  affirming  that  he  neither  expects  justifi- 
cation nor  condemnation  by  that  Christ  that  died,  or  was 
put  to  death,  at  Jerusalem  ;  These  are  to  certify  all  Friends 
and  friendly  people  whom  it  may  concern,  that  we  testify 
against  this  doctrine  as  stated  by  him,  as  both  pernicious 
and  antichristian,  and  contrary  to  plain  Scriptures  and  the 
constant  testimony  faithfully  borne  amongst  us  from  the 
beginning :  For  neither  do  we  profess  or  preach  two 
Christs  ;  nor  yet  own  justification  by  any  other  Christ,  or 
in  any  other  name,  but  by  and  in  the  name  of  that  one  very 
Christ  of  God,  [of]  whom  the  holy  prophets  and  apostles 
gave  witness  in  the  Scriptures  of  truth,  (1  Pet.  iii.  18.); 
who  was  miraculously  conceived  by  the  Holy  Ghost  over- 
shadowing the  virgin  Mary  ;  and  was  crucified  and  put  to 
death  in  the  flesh,  (without  the  gates  of  Jerusalem,)  but 
quickened  by  the  Spirit,  whom  God  raised  from  the  dead. 
We  must  confess  with  the  holy  apostles,  (Acts  xiii.  30.)  that 
even  by  Him,  (to  wit,  that  very  Christ,)  all  that  believed 
are  justified  from  all  things,  from  -which  they  could  not  be 
justified  by  the  law  of  Moses  :  and  that  remission  of  sins, 
justification,  and  salvation,  as  then  preached  in  the  name  of 
the  same  Lord  Jesus  Christ  and  by  his  eternal  power  and 
Spirit  of  our  God  ;  so  the  same  is  constantly  believed  and 
witnessed  amongst  us.  And  although  the  best  sense  that 
we  can  suppose  or  gather,  as  aimed  at  by  the  said  J.  B.  is, 
That  it  is  not  only  by  the  sufferings  and  death  of  Christ, 
nor  by  a  mere  literal  knowledge  of  Christ  as  after  the  flesh, 
that  men  can  be  either  completely  justified  or  saved  from  sin 
and  death,  any  more  than  the  apostles  or  primitive  Chris- 
tians were,  but  by  his  life,  Spirit,  and  power  operating  in 
them,  and  so  by  a  living  and  spiritual  knowledge  of  Christ 
as  after  the  Spirit :  Which,  though  the  truth  of  this  we  can- 
not but  own  and  justify,  yet  this  cannot  excuse  the  before 
cited  doctrine,  as  laid  down,  which  denies  justification  and 


240        ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 

condemnation  by  that  Christ  that  died  :  for  that  supposeth 
another  Christ  for  that  end,  and  so  two  Christs  Whereas 
the  very  Christ,  the  Son  of  God,  is  but  one,  though  he  hath 
often  and  variously  manifested  himself  from  the  beginning, 
as  both  before  he  came  in  the  flesh,  and  in  the  fulness  of 
time  in  the  flesh,  viz.  that  body  that  was  prepared  for  him 
to  do  the  will  of  his  Father  in  :  and  since  in  Spirit,  for  the 
everlasting  salvation  and  comfort  of  all  them  who  believe 
in  his  name  and  power,  which  by  his  divine  light  within,  is 
livingly  revealed.  And  we  confess  that  this  Son  of  God, 
our  Saviour,  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord,  was  made  of  the  seed 
of  David  according  to  the  flesh,  (Rom.  i.  3,  4.)  and  declar- 
ed to  be  the  Son  of  God  with  power  according  to  the  Spirit 
of  holiness,  by  the  resurrection  from  the  dead  :  and  that 
that  very  Christ  that  came  of  Israel  as  concerning  the  flesh, 
is  over  all,  God  blessed  for  ever,  Rom.  ix.  5.  So  that  he 
is  truly  and  inseparably  God  and  man,  according  to  the 
Scriptures  of  truth.  And  even  that  very  Christ  who  was 
crucified  and  slain,  hath  God  lifted  up  with  his  right  hand, 
to  be  a  Prince  and  a  Saviour,  Acts  v.  30,  31.  So  we  con- 
fess with  the  apostles,  (1  Cor.  viii.  6.)  that  to  us,  is  but  one 
God,  the  Father,  of  whom  are  all  things,  and  we  in  him  ; 
and  one  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  by  whom  are  all  things,  and  we 
by  him.t  And  further,  we  cannot  own  any  such  doctrine 
or  words,  (by  whomsoever  spoken,)  as  tend  to  undervalue 
the  sufferings,  death,  and  blood  of  Christ.  For  not  only  a 
reconciliation  was  declared  and  made  through  his  death, 
(Rom.  V.  10.  Heb.  ii.  17.)  but  all  his  sufferings,  and  his 
being  the  one  universal  offering  and  sacrifice,  did  contribute 
to  man's  redemption,  and  the  salvation  of  all  that  truly 
believe  in  his  name,  Titus  iii.  5,  G.  Though  without  the 
washing  of  regeneration  and  being  born  again  (John  iii.  5. 
1  Pet.  i.  23.)  of  the  living  Word  and  Spirit  of  life,  none  do 
really  partake  of  eternal  salvation,  or  that  redemption  which 
is  obtained  through  the  blood  of  Christ,  who  gave  himself 
for  us  that  he  might  redeem  us  from  all  iniquity. 

**  Giles  Barnardiston,  John  Cornwell,  William  Welch, 

*  "  And  therefore  the  said  J.  B.  oufifht  to  see  his  error  and  recant,  and 
call  back  his  words  which  have  given  occasion  of  stumbling  in  Sud- 
bury." 

t  Acts  xvii.  31.  And  God  will  judge  the  world  in  righteousness,  by 
that  Man  he  halh  ordained. 


ON  THE  DniXITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHEIST.  241 


Samuel  Waldentield,  Joseph  Riddledeale,  Samuel  Cooper, 
Abraham  Goldman,  Ezekiel  Sheldreck,  Thomas  Clarke, 
John  Fowler,  Philip  Steevens." 

The  above  testimony  is  copied  from  a  book  of  Minutes, 
entitled  "  A  Register  of  the  Proceedings  of  Friends  at  the 
Men's  Meetings  in  Sudburv,  Haverhill,  Lavenham,  and 
Boxford,  and  Clare,  in  Sutifolk."  The  testimony  is  without 
date,  but  is  written  on  a  leaf  following  a  minute  dated  "  At 
the  Men's  Meetins:,  which  was  kept  at  Haverhill  on  the 
9th  day  of  the  1st  month,  167G." 

This  copy  has  been  carefully  compared  with  the  origi- 
nal, and  found  correct,  by 

WM.  D.  KING. 
ALFRED  SMITH. 

Jeffery  Bullock  was  afterwards  brought  to  see  the  delu- 
sion and  errors  into  which  he  had  fallen,  and  in  the  year 
1686  gave  forth  "  Several  testimonies  against  that  evil 
spirit  by  which  he  had  been  led  to  oppose  the  truth  and 
people  of  God,  both  by  word,  writing,  and  printed  books, 
for  several  years  last  past.''  The  following  is  extracted 
from  it : — 

"  Sudbury,  the  25th  of  8th  month,  1686. 

"  AVhereas,  in  an  hour  of  darkness  and  temptation,  1  have 
been  drawn  forth  by  the  enemy  of  my  soul,  that  hath  led 
me  out  in  envy,  enmity,  and  great  wilfulness,  through  my 
departing  from  the  holy  light  and  pure  witness  of  God  in 
my  own  conscience,  to  write,  and  cause  to  be  printed  and 
published,  divers  books  and  papers,  which  were  unsound^ 
pernicious^  and  contrary  to  truth,  in  reproach  of  God's 
truth  and  people,  and  their  holy  way  and  order,  into  which 
truth  hath  led  and  settled  them  ;  and  not  only  so,  but  have 
also  defamed  the  children  of  truth,  and  enviously  opposed 
them,  not  only  by  writing,  but  publicly  in  meetings :  and 
by  retaining  the  counsel  of  the  adversary  of  mv  soul,  was 
carried  on  further  to  that  ungodly  act,  in  wilfulness  and 
stubbornness,  to  break  that  holy  command  of  Christ,  who 
saith,  '  Sw  ear  not  at  all,'  yet  contradictory  to  the  witness 
of  God  in  my  conscience,  I  did  swear  *,  and  now  after  all 
these  my  wicked  doings,  the  pure  witness  of  God  is  risen, 
and  hath  set  all  these  my  sins  in  order  before  me,  and  sin 
now  is  my  soul's  burthen  :  "Wherefore,  that  mv  soul  may 
find  ease,  and  favour  and  forgiveness  of  God,  in  humility  of 
21 


5^42         ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 

heart,  and  contriteness  of  soul,  do  condemn  all  these  my 
wicked  works ;  and  that  it  may  be  clearly  and  particularly 
evidenced,  I  condemn  by  name  all  my  said  books,  viz.  my 
book  entitled  'Antichrist's  Transformations  within,  dis- 
covered by  the  Light  within my  book,  entitled  '  One 
Blow  more  against  Antichrist's  Ministers,  &c.'  being  a  reply 
to  Giles  Barnardiston's  answer  to  my  first  book  ;  also,  my 
book,  entitled  '  A  Testimony  against  the  Sixty-Six  Judges, 
called  Quakers,  that  wrote  an  Epistle  against  John  Story 
and  John  Wilkinson  also  my  book,  called  '  Gross  Errors 
Detected,  or,  many  of  the  doctrines  of  the  leading  Quakers 
disowned:'  All  which  books  are  for  judgment.  Moreover, 
I  desire  that  all  such  that  have  read  any  or  all  of  the  said 
books,  that  you  take  heed  to  yourselves,  that  nothing  in 
them  do  you  hurt,  for  certainly  it  was  the  dark  and  evil 
spirit  that  guided  me  therein,  to  write  and  publish  them,  by 
which  I  did  despite  to  the  Spirit  of  grace  therein;  and  I 
desire  that  all  that  have  any  of  the  said  books,  that  you 
destroy  them,  as  I  have  done  them  in  my  own  possession, 
that  they  may  all  be  obliterated,  and  that  they  may  never 
be  spoken  of,  or  remembered  any  more.  The  hand  of  the 
Lord  lieth  heavy  upon  me  for  these  things,  therefore  let 
all  take  warning  by  me,  that  you  may  be  kept  out  of  the 
snares  and  baits  of  the  devil,  but  as  every  one  keeps  to  the 
Light,  and  are  obedient  to  God's  witness,  and  holy  grace 
placed  in  their  hearts,  it  will  preserve  them  in  the  way  of 
truth  and  uprightness  for  ever.  Subscribed  with  my  own 
hand,  the  day  and  year  above  written. 

"JEFFERY  BULLOCK." 

"  Postscript.  Whatever  I  have  spoken,  or  caused  to  be 
printed  against  George  Fox,  or  the  order  that  is  amongst 
those  called  Quakers,  1  do  disown  it.  And  as  to  what  I 
have  held  forth,  that  the  soul  is  mortal,  and  that  there  is 
no  future  state,  I  do  utterly  disown  the  same,  believing  it 
came  from  the  same  power  of  darkness  that  brought  forth 
the  fruits  above  mentioned  that  1  have  testified  against. 

"  JEFFERY  BULLOCK." 

"  Subscribed  above  and  here  in  the  presence  of  us, 
Mary  Bullock,  his  wife,  Johannah  Kemp,  John  Baker, 
Thomas  Clark,  Francis  Waldegrave,  Ezekiel  Sheldrick, 
Arthur  Gotten,  John  Furly. 

"  The  contents  of  this  paper,  and  his  name  written  with 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.  243 


his  own  hand,  was  owned  since,  before  Anne  Bullock,  his 
daughter. 

"Sudbury,  October  4th,  1686." 

The  circumstance  of  his  disownment  at  so  early  a  pe- 
riod, within  thirty  years  after  George  Fox's  convincement, 
and  during  the  lives  of  almost  all  those,  whom  we  are  wont 
to  consider  as  the  brightest  luminaries  of  that  gospel  day, 
is  certainly  a  most  interesting  and  important  fact.  It 
fixes,  with  indubitable  certainty,  the  faith  of  our  primitive 
Friends  in  relation  to  those  essential  doctrines  of  the 
Christian  religion  ;  and  proves  beyond  contradiction,  that 
they  viewed  it  as  a  matter  of  high  concernment,  that  all 
their  members  should  be  preserved  in  the  unity  of  the 
faith,  sound  in  word  and  doctrine. 

It  furnishes  us  also  with  a  triumphant  refutation  of  the 
assertions,  that  they  considered  doctrines  of  no  import- 
ance ;  that  they  had  but  one  fundamental  doctrine ;  and 
that  to  profess  a  belief  in  the  light  of  Christ  Jesus  inwardly 
revealed,  and  to  live  moral  lives,  were  the  only  requisites 
necessary  to  entitle  persons  to  the  privileges  of  Christian 
communion. 

The  refutation  of  these  unfounded  opinions  does  not, 
however,  rest  merely  on  the  case  which  I  have  just  men- 
tioned. Several  other  persons  were  testified  against  by  the 
primitive  Quakers,  for  holding  sentiments  repugnant  to  the 
doctrines  of  Christ  and  his  apostles     and  in  the  year 

*  Besides  these  instances  of  disownment  recorded  in  the  early  history 
of  the  Society,  there  have  been  others  at  different  periods  since  ;  several 
have  occurred  v/ithin  the  present  century,  some  of  which  may  properly 
be  introduced  here,  in  order  to  show  that  the  Society  has  continued  its 
care  for  the  preservation  of  its  members  in  the  profession  of  the  Christian 
religion  ;  and  that  where  any  thing  to  the  contrary  appeared,  it  has  uni- 
formly borne  an  open  testimony  against  it. 

In  the  year  1800,  Hannah  Barnard,  of  Hudson,  in  the  state  of  New 
York,  while  on  a  religious  visit  to  Friends  in  England,  promulgated  un- 
sound doctrines,  which  brought  her  under  the  notice  of  the  morning 
meeting  in  London.  The  admonition  and  labour  of  Friends  proving 
ineffectual,  and  she  persisting  in  the  avowal  of  her  sentiments,  the  case 
was  referred  to  Devonshire-House  monthly  meeting,  and  finally  brought, 
by  her  appeal,  before  the  quarterly  meeting  of  London  and  Middlesex, 
and  the  yearly  meeting  of  London  in  1801  ;  in  all  which  meetings,  her 
doctrines  were  denied  by  the  Society,  and  the  proceedinors  of  the  inferior 
meeting  confirmed.  Minutes  of  the  case  were  subsequently  transmitted 
to  the  monthly  meeting  of  Hudson,  New  York,  by  which  she  was  dis- 
owned in  consequence  of  her  unsound  doctrines.  She  again  carried  her 
case  to  the  superior  meetings  by  an  appeal,  and  after  careful  examina- 


244     0:V  THE  DIYIIVITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST. 


1694,  the  following  rule  of  discipline  was  adopted  by  the 
yearly  nneeting,  viz. — 

"  If  there  be  any  such  gross  errors,  false  doctrines,  or 
mistakes  held  by  any  professing  truth,  as  are  either  against 

tion,  the  judgment  of  the  monthly  meeting  of  Hudson  was  confirmed, 
by  which  act  the  Society  fully  declared  its  disunity  with  the  unsound 
doctrines  which  she  promulgated.  By  a  reference  to  a  printed  summary 
of  her  faith,  and  other  documents  which  are  already  before  the  public,  I 
find  that  she  denied  the  truth  of  many  parts  of  Scripture  history,  par- 
ticularly those  which  relate  to  the  Jewish  wars,  the  miraculous  concep- 
tion of  Jesus  Christ,  and  his  miracles.  The  doctrine  of  the  propitiation 
of  our  blessed  Lord,  she  styles  "  an  inconsistent,  unintelligible  motley  of 
absurdity;"  a  "system  of  jargon,  which  scarcely  admits  of  a  parallel* 
&c."  and  likewise  rejects  a  belief  in  his  divinity,  and  resurrection  from 
the  dead. 

One  of  her  followers  was  subsequently  disowned  in  England  for  hold- 
ing similar  sentiments,  and  carried  his  case  to  the  quarterly  and  yearly 
meeting  by  an  appeal.  He  was  fully  heard  in  the  open  meeting,  and 
the  proceedings  of  the  subordinate  meetings  confirmed,  by  which  act 
the  Society's  disapprobation  of  such  dangerous  and  anti-christian  errors 
was  ag-ain  clearly  manifested. 

In  the  year  1B15,  an  individual  was  brought  under  dealing  in  the 
monthly  meeting  of  Westbury,  on  Long  Island,  for  denying  the  divinity 
of  Jesus  Christ,  a  belief  in  divine  revelation,  and  the  authenticity  of  the 
Holy  Scriptures.  After  a  long  extension  of  labour  on  the  part  of  his 
friends,  he  presented  a  condemnation  of  his  errors  to  the  monthly  meeting, 
and  the  case  was  dismissed.  Having  relapsed,  however,  into  his  former 
errors,  the  case  was  again  taken  up  in  1822,  together  with  those  of  two 
other  persons,  on  the  charge  of  unsoundness  in  doctrine,  and  neglect  of 
meetings,  and  all  the  parties  were  disowned. 

Another  individual  was  disowned  by  the  monthly  meeting" of  Yonge 
St.  Upper  Canada,  for  denying  the  divinity  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
and  expressing  his  disbelief  of  some  parts  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  d.c. 
The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  testimony  of  disownment  issued  in  his 
case,  viz : 

 •,  having  had  a  right  to  membership  amongst  friends,  has  been 

so  unguarded  in  his  conversation,  as  to  deny  the  divinity  of  our  Lord 
and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  by  declaring  as  his  belief,  that  he  was  no  more 
than  the  apostle  Paul  or  any  other  inspired  man,  and  also  expressed  a 
light  esteem  of  the  scriptures,  and  a  disbelief  of  some  passages  in  them, 
and  manifested  so  little  regard  to  the  good  and  wholesome  advice  of  the 
yearly  meeting  as  to  interrupt  and  oppose  a  friend  when  publicly  appear- 
ing in  testimony  in  a  meeting  for  worship,  and  friends  having  treated 
wath  him  in  order  for  his  restoration,  but  our  labours  with  him  not  hav- 
ing the  desired  effect,  we  therefore  have  no  further  unity  with  him  as  a 
member  of  our  religious  society,  until  he  comes  to  a  sense  of  his  errors, 
and  condemns  them  to  the  satisfaction  of  this  meeting." 

He  appealed  to  the  half  year's  meeting  of  Canada,  and  to  the  yearly 
meeting  of  New  York  in  1815,  by  both  of  which  the  proceedings  of  the 
monthly  meeting  were  confirmed.  Within  the  limits  of  Nine  Partners, 
Stanford  and  Duanesburg  quarterly  meetings  in  the  state  of  New 
York,  there  have  been  several  instances  of  disownment  for  embracing 


ON  THE  DIVINITY  AND  OFFICES  OF  JESUS  CHRIST.  245 


the  validity  of  Christ's  sufferings,  blood,  resurrection,  as- 
cension, or  glory  in  the  heavens,  according  as  they  are  set 
forth  in  the  Scriptures;  or  any  ways  tending  to  the  denial 
of  the  heavenly  Man,  Christ;  such  persons  ought  to  be 
diligently  instructed  and  admonished  by  faithful  friends, 
and  not  to  be  exposed  by  any  to  public  reproach;  and 
where  the  error  proceeds  from  ignorance  and  darkness 
of  their  understanding,  they  ought  the  more  meekly  and 
gently  to  be  informed  :  But  if  any  shall  wilfully  persist  in 
error  in  point  of  faith,  after  being  duly  informed,  then  such 
to  be  further  dealt  with  according  to  gospel  order;  that 
the  truth,  church,  or  body  of  Christ,  may  not  suffer  by  any 

particular  pretended  member  that  is  so  corrupt."  1694. 

See  Extracts. 

The  Society  having  greatly  increased  in  numbers,  and 
many  ministers  being  engaged  to  travel  in  the  work  of  the 
gospel,  a  concern  was  felt  by  the  yearly  meeting,  that  such 
as  went  forth  on  these  important  missions  might  be  sound 
in  the  faith,  lest,  through  their  means,  the  minds  of  any 
should  be  poisoned  with  erroneous  principles,  and  thereby 
the  foundation  be  laid  for  the  greatest  evils.  In  order  to 
guard  against  such  an  occurrence,  a  rule  of  discipline  was 
made  in  the  year  1699,  as  follows,  viz. — 

"  Recommended,  to  the  several  monthly  and  quarterly 
meetings,  that  they  take  care  to  advise  that  those  Friends 
who  go  forth  with  a  public  testimony,  may  be  such  as  are 
well  approved  at  home,  by  their  own  respective  monthly 
or  quarterly  meetings,  and  are  sound  in  doctrine^  of  good 
conversation,  and  in  unity  with  their  own  meetings. 

"  And  if  any  faithful  Friends  or  meetings  be  burthened 
with  the  contrary,  let  them  tenderly  clear  their  consciences 
privately,  to  the  parties  concerned,  according  to  gospel 
order ;  and  if  they  do  not  receive  admonition,  the  meeting 
to  which  they  belong  should  be  acquainted  therewith.'^ 
Discipline,  1699. 

doctrines  inconsistent  with  those  which  Friends  have  always  held. 
Other  cases  of  a  similar  character  have  occurred  in  Philadelphia  yearly 
meeting,  as  well  as  in  most  of  the  others,  which  if  necessary  might  be 
adduced  ;  but  ii  is  apprehended  these  will  be  sufficient  to  show  that  the 
Society  of  Friends  has  uniformly  required  of  its  members  an  acknow- 
ledgement of  the  truths  contained  in  holy  Scripture,  and  a  belief  in  the 
fundamental  doctrines  of  the  Christian  religion.  They  also  prove  that 
the  denial  of  any  of  these,  has  been  considered  an  offence  of  so  high  a 
eharacier  as  to  demand  a  disownment  from  its  communion. 

21* 


246 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES, 


These  salutary  regulations  are  in  force  at  the  present 
time  among  our  brethren  in  Great  Britain  ;  and  the  follow- 
ing extract  from  the  discipline  of  Philadelphia,  Baltimore, 
North  Carolina,  Ohio,  and  Indiana  yearly  meetini^s,  shows 
that  the  same  important  subjects  have  claimed  the  atten- 
tion of  the  Society  in  America. 

"  If  any  in  membership  with  us,  shall  blaspheme,  or 
speak  profanely  of  Almighty  God,  Christ  Jesus,  or  the 
Holy  Spirit,  he  or  she  ought  early  to  be  tenderly  treated 
for  their  instruction,  and  the  convincement  of  their  under- 
standing, that  they  may  experience  repentance  and  forr 
giveness :  But  should  any,  notwithstanding  this  brotherly 
labour,  persist  in  their  error,  or  deny  the  divinity  of  our 
Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  the  immediate  revelation 
of  the  Holy  Spirit,  or  the  authenticity  of  the  Scriptures; 
as  it  is  manifest  they  are  not  one  in  faith  with  us,  the 
monthly  meetings  where  the  party  belongs,  having  extended 
due  care  for  the  help  and  beneht  of  the  individual  without 
effect,  ought  to  declare  the  same,  and  issue  their  testimony 
accordingly." 


SECTION  III. 

Oil  the  Holy  Scriptures. 

The  religious  Society  of  Friends  has  always  sincerely 
believed,  that  the  holy  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New 
Testament  were  given  by  inspiration  of  God  ;  that  holy 
men  of  old  wrote  them  as  they  were  moved  by  the  Holy 
Ghost ;  and  that  these  sacred  and  invaluable  records,  which 
have  thus  been  preserved  and  transmitted  tons,  in  the  wis- 
dom and  goodness  of  a  kind  Providence,  are  profitable  for 
doctrine,  for  reproof,  for  correction,  for  instruction  in  right- 
eousness, that  the  man  of  God  may  be  perfect,  thoroughly 
furnished  unto  every  good  work.  Whatsoever  was  thus 
written  aforetime,  was  written  for  our  learning,  that  we, 
through  patience  and  comfort  of  the  Scriptures,  might 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES. 


247 


have  hope  ;  they  being  able  to  make  us  wise  unto  salva- 
tion, through  faith  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus. 

Although  Friends  cannot  call  them  the  Word  of  God, 
believing  that  this  exalted  epithet  is  strictly  and  peculiar- 
ly applicable  to  our  blessed  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ,  and  to  him  only,  yet  they  have  ever  believed  them 
to  be  the  words  of  God.  They  are  a  true  testimony  of 
those  things  most  surely  believed  by  the  apostles  and  pri- 
mitive Christians,  and  by  their  faithful  successors  down  to 
the  present  day  ;  and  as  they  contain  the  mind  and  will  of 
God,  and  are  his  commands  to  us,  in  that  respect  they 
are  his  declaratory  word  ;  of  divine  authority,  and  obli- 
gatory upon  us. 

They  receive  and  believe  in  them  as  the  most  authentic 
and  perfect  declaration  of  Christian  faith ;  the  only  fit 
outward  judge  and  test  of  the  soundness  of  doctrine;  and 
they  have  ever  declared  their  willingness  that  all  their 
doctrines  and  principles  should  be  tried  by  them,  and  that 
whatsoever  any,  who  profess  to  be  guided  by  the  Holy 
Spirit,  either  believe  or  do,  which  is  contrary  to,  or  incon- 
sistent with,  their  divine  testimony,  should  be  accounted 
a  delusion.  Many  of  the  extracts  contained  in  the  pre- 
ceding pages  corroborate  these  views,  and  the  following 
selections  will  further  elucidate  and  confirm  them. 


GEORGE  FOX, 

In  giving  an  account  of  his  religious  exercises  when 
quite  young,  makes  the  following  observations  : — 

"  Though  I  had  great  openings,  yet  great  trouble  and 
temptations  came  many  times  upon  me,  so  that  when  it 
was  day  1  wished  for  night,  and  when  it  was  night  I  wished 
for  day  :  and  by  reason  of  the  openings  I  had  in  my  trou- 
bles, I  could  say  as  David  said,  '  Day  unto  day  uttereth 
speech,  and  night  unto  night  showeth  knowledge.'  When 
I  had  openings,  they  answered  one  another,  and  answered 
the  Scriptures,  for  I  had  great  openings  of  the  Scriptures, 
and  when  I  was  in  troubles,  one  trouble  also  answered  to 
another."— Journal,  vol.  i.  p.  80.  1646. 

From  his  "  Great  Mystery,"  published  in  1659,  the  fol- 
lowing extracts  are  taken,  viz. — 


248 


0^-  THE  HOLY  SCBlPTrRES. 


"  Samuel  Eaton  objected,  '  The  devil  shows  his  spite 
and  spleen,  in  them  who  say  they  have  the  Word,  as  it  was 
in  the  beginning,  against  the  Scriptures,'  Sec. 

George  Fox.  "  Answer. — That  is  not  so,  for  they  that 
have  the  Word,  as  was  in  the  beginning,  own  the  Scrip- 
tures, and  are  not  against  them,  but  are  in  that  which  ful- 
fils them."— Page  4.  1659. 

Richard  Baxter,  writing  against  Friends,  called  the 
Scriptures  "  the  temporal  word to  which  George  Fox 
replies,  "  Now  see  if  this  be  not  an  undervaluing  the  Scrip- 
tures of  truth,  and  the  words  of  God  and  Christ,  and  the 
prophets  and  apostles,  which  cannot  be  broken  ;  he  calls 
it  a  temporal  word,  which  [whereas]  the  Scripture  teacheth 
no  such  doctrine." — Page  29.  1659. 

"  He  says,  Christ's  name  is  called  the  Word  of  God  ; 
his  name  is  above  every  name,  and  over  all  things  he  must 
have  the  pre-eminence,  words  and  names.  Yet  I  say,  the 
Scriptures  of  truth,  given  forth  from  the  Spirit  of  truth, 
are  the  words  of  God ;  God's  words,  which  Christ  the 
Word  fulfilled,  by  him,  in  whom  they  end,  who  was  be- 
fore the  words  were  spoken  forth." — Page  110.  1659. 

The  declaration  of  faith  issued  by  George  Fox  and 
others,  and  presented  to  the  governor  and  council  of  Bar- 
badoes,  contains  the  following  observations^  viz.- — 

"  Concerning  the  holy  Scriptures :  We  believe  they 
were  given  forth  by  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God,  through  the 
holy  men  of  God,  who  (as  the  Scripture  itself  declares,  2 
Pet.  i.  21.)  spoke  as  they  were  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost: 
we  believe  they  are  to  be  read,  believed,  and  fulfilled,  (he 
that  fulfils  them  is  Christ,)  and  they  are  profitable  for  re- 
proof, for  correction,  and  for  instruction  in  righteousness, 
that- the  man  of  God  maybe  perfect,  thoroughly  furnished 
unto  all  good  works,  2  Tim.  iii.  19.  and  are  able  to  make 
wise  unto  salvation,  through  faith  in  Christ  Jesus.  We 
beheve  the  holy  Scriptures  are  the  words  of  God,  for  it  is 
said  in  Exodus  xx.  1.  '  God  spake  all  these  words,  saying, 
(fee'  meaning  the  ten  commandments  given  forth  upon 
Mount  Sinai.  And  in  Rev.  xxii.  18.  saith  John,  '  1  testify 
to  every  man  that  heareth  the  words  of  the  prophecy  of 
this  book,  if  any  man  addeth  unto  these,  and  if  any  man 
shall  takeaway  from  the  words  of  the  book  of  this  prophe- 
cy, (not  the  Word,)  <kc.'  So  in  Luke  i.  20.  Because  thou 
believest  not  my  words  ;  and  in  John  v.  47.  xv.  7.  xiv.  23. 


jOy  THE  HOLr  aCRrPTTRES. 


S49 


xii.  47  :  So  that  we  call  the  hol  v  Scriptures,  as  Christ,  the 

apostles  and  holy  men  of  God.  called  them.  tiz.  the  words 

of  God." — G.  Fox's  Journal,  pages  145,  146,  147.  

1671. 


ROBERT  B-VRCL-\Y. 

The  following  extracts  from  Barclay's  Apology,  will 
give  a  clear  view  of  the  value  and  estimation  in  which 
that  excellent  man  and  his  cotemporar\  Friends,  held  the 
sacred  writing?,  viz. — 

Proposition  third,  conceroiDg  the  Scriptures, 

"  From  these  revelations  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  to  the 
saints,  have  proceeded  the  Scriptures  of  truth,  which 
contain, 

"1.  A  faithful  historical  account  of  the  actings  of  God's 
people  in  divers  ares ;  with  many  sinralar  and  remarkable 
providences  attending  them. 

II.  A  prophetical  account  of  several  things,  whereof 
some  are  already  past,  and  some  yet  to  come. 

"111.  A  full  and  ample  account  of  all  the  chief  princi- 
ples of  the  doctrine  of  Christ,  held  forth  in  divers  precious 
declarations,  exhortations,  and  sentences,  which,  by  ^tbe 
moving  of  God's  Spirit,  were  at  several  times,  and  upon 
sundry  occasions,  spoken  and  written  unto  some  churches 
and  their  pastors. 

"  Nevertheless,  because  they  are  only  a  declaration  'of 
the  fountain,  and  not  the  fountain  itself,  therefore  they  are 
not  to  be  esteemed  the  principal  ground  of  all  truth  and 
knowledge,  nor  yet  the  adequate,  primary  rule  of  faith 
and  manners.  Yes  because  they  give  a  trae  and  faithful 
testimony  of  the  first  foundation,  they  are  and  may  be 
esteemed  a  secondary  rule,  subordinate  to  the  Spirit,  from 
which  they  have  all  their  excellency  and  certainty ;  for  as 
by  the  inward  testimony  of  the  Spirit  we  do  alone  truly 
know  them,  so  they  testify  that  the  Spirit  is  that  guide, 
by  which  the  saints  are  led  into  all  truth ;  therefore, 
according  to  the  Scriptures,  the  Spirit  is  the  first  and  prin- 
cipal leader.  Seeing  then  that  we  do  therefore  receive 
and  believe  the  Scriptures  because  they  proceeded  from 
the  Spirit,  for  the  verv-  same  reason,  is  the  Spirit  more 


250 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES. 


originally  and  principally  the  rule,  according  to  the  received 
maxim  in  the  schools,  Propter  quod  unumquodque  est  tale, 
illud  ipsum  est  magis  tale  :  that  for  which  a  thing  is  such, 
that  thing  itself  is  more  such." 

He  then  proceeds  to  the  argument,  viz. — 
"  1st.  The  former  part  of  this  proposition,  though  it 
needs  no  apology  for  itself,  yet  it  is  a  good  apology  for  us, 
and  will  help  to  sweep  away  that,  among  many  other 
calumnies,  wherewith  we  are  often  loaded,  as  if  we  were 
vihfiers  and  deniers  of  the  Scriptures  ;  for  in  that  which 
we  affirm  of  them,  it  doth  appear  at  what  high  rate  we 
value  them,  accounting  them,  without  all  deceit  or  equi- 
vocation, the  most  excellent  writings  in  the  world  ;  to 
which  not  only  no  other  writmgs  are  to  be  preferred,  but 
even  in  divers  respects  not  comparable  thereto.  For  as 
we  freely  acknowledge,  that  their  authority  doth  not  de- 
pend upon  the  approbation  or  canons  of  any  church  or 
assembly ;  so  neither  can  we  subject  them  to  the  fallen, 
corrupt,  and  defiled  reason  of  man  ;  and  therein  as  we  do 
freely  agree  with  the  protestants,  against  the  error  of  the 
Romanists ;  so,  on  the  other  hand,  we  cannot  go  the  length 
of  such  protestants,  as  make  their  authority  to  depend  upon 
any  virtue  or  power  that  is  in  the  writings  themselves ;  but 
we  desire  to  ascribe  all  to  that  Spirit  from  which  they 
proceeded." — Pages  81,  82. 

"  In  this  respect  above  mentioned  then,  we  have  shown 
v/hat  service  and  use  the  holy  Scriptures,  as  managed  in 
and  by  the  Spirit,  are  of  to  the  church  of  God  ;  wherefore 
we  do  account  them  a  secondary  rule.  Moreover,  because 
they  are  commonly  acknowledged  by  all,  to  have  been 
written  by  the  dictates  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  that  the 
errors,  which  may  be  supposed  by  the  injury  of  times  to 
have  slipped  in,  are  not  such  but  that  there  is  a  sufficient 
clear  testimony  left  to  all  the  essentials  of  the  Christian 
faith ;  we  do  look  upon  them  as  the  only  fit  outward  judge 
of  controversies  among  Christians  ;  and  that  whatsoever 
doctrine  is  contrary  unto  their  testimony,  may  therefore 
justly  be  rejected  as  false.  And  for  our  parts,  we  are  very 
willing  that  all  our  doctrines  and  practices  be  tried  by 
them  ;  which  we  never  refused,  nor  ever  shall,  in  all  con- 
troversies with  our  adversaries,  as  the  judge  and  test.  We 
shall  also  be  very  wilHng  to  admit  it  as  a  positive,  certain 
maxim,  that  whatsoever  any  do,  pretending  the  Spirit, 


0>'  THE   HOLY  SCBIPTURES. 


251 


which  is  contrary  to  the  Scriptures,  be  accounted,  and 
reckoned  a  delusion  of  the  devil.  For  as  we  never  lay 
claim  to  the  Spirit's  leadings,  that  we  may  cover  ourselves 
in  any  thing  that  is  evil,  so  we  know  that  as  every  evil 
contradicts  the  Scriptures,  so  it  doth  also  the  Spirit,  in  the 
first  place,  from  which  the  Scriptures  came ;  and  whose 
motions  can  never  contradict  one  another,  though  they 
may  appear  sometimes  to  be  contradictory  to  the  blind  eye 
of  the  natural  man,  as  Paul  and  James  seem  to  contradict 
one  another." — Pages  85,  86. 

"  The  last,  and  that  which  at  first  view  seems  to  be  the 
greatest  objection,  is  this : 

"  Tf  the  Scripture  be  not  the  adequate,  principal,  and 
only  rule,  then  it  would  follow  that  the  Scripture  is  not 
complete,  nor  the  canon  filled  :  that  if  men  be  now  imme- 
diately led  and  ruled  by  the  Spirit,  they  may  add  new 
scriptures  of  equal  authority  with  the  old,  whereas  every 
one  that  adds  is  cursed :  yea,  what  assurance  have  we, 
but,  at  this  rate,  every  one  may  bring  in  a  new  gospel, 
according  to  his  fancy  ? 

"  The  dangerous  consequences  insinuated  in  this  objec- 
tion, were  fully  answered  in  the  latter  part  of  the  last  pro- 
position, in  what  was  said  a  little  before,  offering  freely 
to  disclaim  all  pretended  revelations  contrary  to  the 
Scripture. 

*'  Objection  1. — But  if  it  be  urged,  that  it  is  not  enough 
to  deny  these  consequences,  if  they  naturally  follow  from 
your  doctrine  of  immediate  revelation,  and  denying  the 
Scripture  to  be  the  only  rule : 

"  I  answer,  we  have  proved  both  these  doctrines  to  be 
true  and  necessary,  according  to  the  Scriptures  them- 
selves ;  and  therefore  to  fasten  evil  consequences  upon 
them,  which  we  make  appear  do  not  follow,  is  not  to 
accuse  us,  but  Christ  and  his  apostles,  who  preached  them. 
But,  secondly,  we  have  shut  the  door  upon  all  such  doc- 
trine in  this  very  position,  affirming  that  the  Scriptures 
give  a  full  and  ample  testimony,  to  all  the  principal  doc- 
trines of  the  Christian  faith.  For  we  do  firmly  believe 
that  there  is  no  other  gospel  or  doctrine  to  be  preached, 
but  that  which  was  delivered  by  the  apostles ;  and  do 
freely  subscribe  to  that  saying,  let  him  that  preacheth  any 
other  gospel  than  that  which  hath  been  already  preached 


252 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES. 


by  the  apostles,  and  according  to  the  Scriptures,  be 
accursed. 

"  So  we  distinguish  betwixt  a  revelation  of  a  new  gospel 
and  new  doctrines,  and  a  new  revelation  of  the  good  old 
gospel  and  doctrines ;  the  last  we  plead  for,  but  the  first 
we  utterly  deny.  For  we  firmly  believe  that '  no  other 
foundation  can  any  man  lay  than  that  which  is  laid  already.' 
But  that  this  revelation  .is  necessary,  we  have  already 
proved ;  and  this  distinction  doth  sufficiently  guard  us  against 
the  hazard  insinuated  in  the  objection." — Apology,  pages 
104,  105.  1675. 

Robert  Barclay  and  G.  Keith  had  a  dispute  with  some 
students  of  divinity  at  Aberdeen,  in  which  the  following 
arguments  were  used,  viz. — 

Student.  "  That  which  may  beguile  a  man  is  falla- 
cious :  But, 

"  According  to  the  Quakers,  the  Scriptures  may  beguile 
a  man,  without  the  indwelling  of  the  Spirit. 
"  Therefore, 

"  According  to  the  Quakers,  the  Scriptures  are  falla- 
cious." 

To  this  R.  B.  answers — 

R.  B.  "  I  deny  thy  second  proposition :  for  the  Scrip- 
tures cannot  beguile  any  man  ;  although  men  m;jy  or  have 
beguiled  themselves  by  a  wrong  use  of  it." 

Student.  "  Take  notice,  people  :  the  Quakers  say  the 
Scriptures  cannot  beguile  you." 

R.  B.  "  Speak  louder  yet :  for  we  do  and  have  con- 
stantly affirmed  it;  and  we  hope  it  will  help  to  clear  us  of 
those  misrepresentations,  as  if  we  despised  or  spoke  evil  of 
the  Scriptures."— Works,  p.  575—7.  1675. 


WILLIAM  PENN. 

In  a  work,  entitled  "  A  Serious  Apology  for  the  Princi- 
ples and  Practices  of  the  people  called  Quakers,"  written 
by  George  Whitehead  and  William  Penn,  the  following 
expressions  are  contained,  viz. — 

"  Nor  would  we  be  thought  to  lessen  the  virtue,  use,  and 
reputation  of  the  holy  Scriptures,  whilst  we  endeavour  the 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES. 


253 


vindication  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  in  his  office  of  revelation  to 
believers. 

"  They  are  useful  in  two  eminent  respects — 
"  First :  Historically  ;  as  giving  us  a  true  narrative  of  the 
transactions  of  those  ages  of  the  world,  in  reference  to 
the  church,  or  state  of  both  Jews  and  Christians,  their 
trials,  troubles,  temptations,  lapses,  recoveries,  and  perfect 
victories. 

"  Secondly — Doctrinally  *,  as  presenting  us  with  a  true 
account  of  the  principles  and  doctrines  of  the  people  of 
God  ;  their  holy  faith  and  patience  :  I  cannot  phrase  it 
better  than  a  divine  glass,  in  which  we  see,  (I  say,  we  see, 
who  first  have  that  heavenly  organ,  and  eye  opened  by 
inspiration  and  revelation,)  the  states  and  conditions  of  the 
primitive  saints,  which  is  matter  of  unspeakable  comfort 
and  confirmation,  as  well  as  of  good  example  to  us  ;  yet 
still,  the  efficient  cause  of  all,  is  the  convincing  revelation, 
and  operation  of  the  eternal  Spirit  of  God  ;  and  the  Scrip- 
tures are  only  useful,  as  unfolded  by  the  inspiration  of  the 
same." — Works,  vol.  ii.  p.  37. 

Again,  in  reply  to  Jenner,  William  Penn  says — 

"  But  I  answer,  Did  ever  any  Quaker  in  the  world  deny 
the  Scriptures  quoted  ?  Do  they  not  own  that  the  com- 
mandments should  be  kept  for  ever ;  That  Timothy  did 
well  to  commit  the  wholesome  doctrine  he  had  heard  of 
Paul,  to  others  ;  and  that  the  faith  should  be  contended 
for  ;  and  the  tradition,  or  those  holy  truths,  declared  by 
the  apostle,  should  abide  w^ith  them  to  whom  he  spoke  ; 
and  with  us  too,  for  evermore  ?  But  what  has  this  to  do 
with  the  necessity  of  revelation  ?  Does  not  the  same 
apostle  expressly  say,  the  Spirit  of  God  only  can  give  to 
discern  the  things  of  God,  and  that  if  any  man  is  otherwise 
minded,  God  will  reveal  it  to  him  ?" — Page  42. 

In  concluding  the  chapter,  from  which  I  have  taken  the 
foregoing  quotations,  William  Penn  says — 

"  We  end  the  chapter  with  this  brief  summary  of  the 
whole : — 

"  First,  That  by  revelation,  we  understand  the  discovery 
and  illumination  of  the  Light  and  Spirit  of  God,  relating 
to  those  things  that  properly  and  immediately  concern  the 
daily  information  and  satisfaction  of  our  souls,  in  the  way 
of  our  duty  to  Him  and  our  neighbour. 

"  Second,  That  we  renounce  all  fantastical  and  whimsi- 
22 


254 


Oy   THE   HOLY  SCRIPTLRES. 


cal  intoxications,  or  any  pretence  to  the  revelation  of  new 
matter  in  opposition  to  the  ancient  gospel,  declared  by 
Christ  Jesus  and  his  apostles :  and  therefore  not  the  reve- 
lation of  new  things,  but  the  renewed  revelation  of  the 
eternal  way  of  truth. 

"  Third,  That  this  revelation  is  the  hfe,  virtue,  condition, 
and  very  soul  of  the  gospel,  and  second  covenant. 

"  Fourth,  That  none  oppose  this,  but  such  as  the  god  of 
this  world  has  blinded  :  and  that  through  their  ignorance  of 
the  spirituality  of  the  evangelical  dispensation,  are,  (whilst 
they  pretend  to  be  under  it,)  sticklers  for  a  more  embond- 
aged  state  than  that  of  the  ancient  Jews.*' — Vol.  ii.  p.  48. 

— 1671. 

But,  methinks,  this  our  demonstration,  should  satisfy 
all :  when  neither  man  nor  Scriptures  are  near  us,  yet  there 
continually  attends  us,  that  Spirit  of  truth,  that  immediately 
informs  us  of  our  thoughts,  words,  and  deeds,  and  gives  us 
true  directions  what  to  do,  and  what  to  leave  undone  ;  is 
not  this  the  rule  of  life  ?  If  ye  are  led  by  the  Spirit  of  God  ; 
then  are  ye  sons  of  God  :  Let  this  suffice  to  vindicate  our 
sense  of  a  true  and  unerring  rule,  which  we  assert,  not  in  a 
way  of  derogation  from  those  holy  writings,  which  with 
reverence  we  read,  believe,  and  desire  always  to  obey  the 
mind  and  will  of  God  therein  contained:  and  let  that  doc- 
trine be  accursed,  that  would  overturn  them." — Page  62. 

The  following  extracts  are  from  his  "  Invalidity  of  John 
Faldo's  Vindication,"  written  in  1673: — 

"  I  do  declare  to  the  whole  world,  that  we  believe  the 
Scriptures  to  contain  a  declaration  of  the  mind  and  will 
of  God,  in  and  to  those  ages  in  which  they  were  written ; 
bein^c  siven  forth  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  moving  in  the  hearts 
of  holy  men  of  God:  that  they  ought  also  to  be  read,  be- 
lieved, and  fulfilled,  in  our  day  :  being  useful  for  reproof 
and  instruction,  that  the  man  of  God  mav  be  perfect." — 
Vol.  ii.  p.  324. 

After  speaking  of  the  apostacy  from  the  Holy  Spirit, 
under  the  darkness  of  which,  men  put  the  Scriptures  into 
the  place  of  the  Spirit,  and  worshipped  them,  he  adds — 

"  They  are  a  declaration  and  testimony  of  heavenly 
things,  but  not  the  heavenly  things  themselves  :  and  as  such 
we  carry  an  high  respect  unto  them.  We  accept  them  as 
the  words  of  God  himself:  and  by  the  assistance  of  his 
Spirit,  they  are  read  with  great  instruction  and  comfort.  I 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES. 


255 


esteem  them  the  best  of  writings,  and  desire  nothing  more 
frequently,  than  that  1  may  lead  the  life  they  exhort  to  ; 
and  whatever  slight  apprehensions  my  disingenuous  adver- 
sary is  pleased  to  have  of  these  kind  of  acknowledgements, 
1  write  the  naked  truth  of  my  heart,  knowing  I  must  give 
an  account  to  God." — Page  327. 

After  declaring  that  the  Spirit  of  Christ  alone  can  un- 
fold the  mysteries  contained  in  the  Scriptures,  he  says — 

"  Wherefore  we  affirm,  that  repentance,  faith,  sanctifica- 
tion,  justification,  redemption,  regeneration,  Szc.  are  all  a 
mystery,  never  to  be  disclosed  but  by  the  revelation  and 
operation  of  the  Spirit  of  God  in  man  :  the  Scripture  can 
only  testify  to  such  things,  that  they  are  ;  but  it  is  the  Spi- 
rit alone  that  works  them,  and  illuminates,  guides,  governs, 
and  rules  the  soul,  in  and  about  such  things.  'Tis  true,  all 
the  Spirit  leads  to,  is  according  to  the  Scriptures  ;  it  over- 
turns them  not ;  for  they  declare  of  most  of  these  opera- 
tions ;  yet  because  we  believe,  know,  and  witness  them, 
from  the  conviction  and  operation  of  the  Spirit,  before  we 
can  possibly  understand  them  in  Scripture,  therefore,  the 
Scripture  is  but  a  declaration,  and  not  the  rule  of  faith, 
&:c."— Page  337,-  1673. 

William  Penn  wTote  several  essays  in  1692,  in  defence 
of  the  Quakers,  against  some  aspersions  contained  in  a 
paper  called  "  The  Athenian."  Speaking  of  the  belief  of 
Friends  in  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  their  exalting  it  as  the  pri- 
mary rule  of  faith  and  practice,  he  says — 

"  This  is  the  doctrine  that  is  our  crime,  our  enthusiasm, 
our  error ;  and  we  are  seducers,  deceivers,  and  what  not, 
for  asserting,  recommending,  and  pressing  it.  But  if  this 
be  to  be  vile,  we  are  like  to  be  more  vile  ;  for  we  must 
bear  witness  to  that  which  the  Scripture  testifies  of,  viz. 
the  Spirit ;  and  prefer  it  before  the  Scripture,  when  the 
Scripture  does  so  of  itself  No  man's  letter  is  himself,  nor 
so  noble  as  himself  The  Scripture  is  as  the  letter  or  epis- 
tle of  the  holy  Ghost  to  men  ;  but  for  that  reason  'tis  not 
the  Holy  Ghost,  nor  to  be  instead  of  the  Holy  Ghost  to  us ; 
nor,  to  be  sure,  to  be  preferred  before  the  Holy  Ghost. 
We  bless  God  for  the  Scriptures  ;  we  read  them  withcom- 
fort^and  advantage;  and  they  are  profitable  to  the  perfect- 
ing of  the  man  of  God,  through  the  assistance  of  the  Spirit : 
The  Scriptures  declare  the  things  of  God;  but  cannot  work 
them  in  the  man  :  The  Spirit  only  can  do  that ;  for  which 


256 


Oy  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES. 


cause  we  honour,  exalt,  and  prefer  the  Spirit,  as  that 
which  fulfils  the  Scripture ;  and  invite  all  to  receive  it,  that 
it  may  make  people  spiritual,  for  to  be  spiritually  minded 
is  life  and  peace.  Wherefore,  as  often  as  any  of  our  ex- 
pressions are  construed  to  lessen  the  holy  Scriptures,  we 
ask  it  as  a  piece  of  justice  from  all  our  readers,  to  take 
this  caution  with  them  ;  we  speak  comparatively,  not  with 
our  books,  or  with  men,  but  with  Christ,  his  Light  and 
Spirit,  from  whence  the  ^  Scriptures  came.  And  in  this 
sense  it  is,  that  R.  Barclay  and  others,  on  the  like  occasion, 
express  themselves,  when  supposed  to  abate  of  the  common 
opinion  of  the  Scriptures.  For  as  face  answers  face  in  a 
glass,  so  we  say  and  know,  the  Spirit  and  Scripture'  answer 
each  other.  And,  therefore,  the  comfortable  evidence  of 
a  Christian  man,  is  the  testimony  of  the  Spirit  of  God 
within  him,  and  the  Scriptures  of  truth  without  him.  Let 
it  not,  then,  be  any  more  a  fault  in  us  to  direct  people  to  the 
Spirit  of  God,  by  which  only  they  can  come  to  the  possess- 
ion of  the  good  things  the  Scriptures  speak  of;  for  though 
they  exhort,  rebuke,  instruct,  &;c.  yet  without  that  great 
agent,  the  Spirit,  influencing  and  enabling  the  creature,  he 
shall  never  experience  the  truth  of  the  Scriptures,  to  him- 
self, in  the  most  relative  and  excellent  parts  of  it." — Page 
799. 

Again,  in  the  same  paper — 

"  But  for  equalling  our  writings  with  Scripture,  wehave 
no  such  expressions  or  thoughts  ;  it  is  a  word  of  your  own, 
and  a  conceit  and  inference  of  our  old  adversaries.  There 
are  degrees,  as  well  as  diversity  of  manifestations  and  ope- 
rations, but  the  same  Lord,  and  the  same  Spirit  :  Yet 
if  it  will  satisfy  you,  we  have  ever  preferred  the  Bible  to 
all  Books,  and  writings  of  saints  and  good  men." — Ibid.  p. 
800. 

In  his  "  Testimony  to  the  Truth,  &;c."  he  thus  speaks  of 
the  belief  of  Friends  in  the  Scriptures  : — 

"  Concerning  the  holy  Scriptures.  Because  we  assert 
the  Holy  Spirit  to  be  the  first,  great,  and  general  rule  and 
guide  of  true  Christians,  as  that  by  which  God  is  wor- 
shipped, sin  detected,  conscience  convicted,  duty  mani- 
fested, Scripture  unfolded  and  explained,  and  consequently 
the  rule  for  understanding  the  Scriptures  themselves,  (since 
by  it  they  were  at  first  given  forth  ;)  from  hence  our  ad- 
versaries are  pleased  to  make  us  blasphemers  of  the  holy 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES. 


257 


Scriptures,  undervaluing  their  authority,  preferring  our 
own  books  before  them,  with  more  to  that  purpose : 
Whereas,  we  in  truth  and  sincerity  beHeve  them  to  be  of 
divine  authority,  given  by  the  inspiration  of  God,  through 
holy  men,  they  speaking  or  writing  them  as  they  were 
moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost  ^  that  they  are  a  declaration  of 
those  things  most  surely  beheved  by  the  primitive  Chris- 
tians, and  that  as  they  contain  the  mind  and  will  of  God, 
and  are  his  commands  to  us,  so  they  in  that  respect  are 
his  declaratory  word ;  and  therefore  are  obligatory  on  us, 
and  are  profitable  for  doctrine,  reproof,  correction,  and 
instruction  in  righteousness,  that  the  man  of  God  may  be 
perfect,  and  thoroughly  furnished  to  every  good  work. 

"  Nay,  after  all,  so  unjust  is  the  charge,  and  so  remote 
from  our  belief  concerning  the  holy  Scriptures,  that  we 
both  love,  honour,  and  prefer  them  before  all  books  in  the 
world  ;  ever  choosing  to  express  our  belief  of  the  Christian 
faith  and  doctrine,  in  the  terms  thereof,  and  rejecting  all 
principles  or  doctrines  whatsoever,  that  are  repugnant 
thereunto. 

"  Nevertheless,  we  are  well  persuaded,  that  notwith- 
standing there  is  such  an  excellency  in  the  holy  Scriptures, 
as  we  have  above  declared,  yet  the  unstable  and  unlearned 
in  Christ's  school,  too  often  wrest  them  to  their  own  de- 
struction. And  upon  our  reflection  on  their  carnal  con- 
structions of  them,  we  are  made  undervaluers  of  Scripture 
itself.  But  certain  it  is,  that  as  the  Lord  hath  been  pleased 
to  give  us  the  experience  of  the  fulfilling  of  them  in  mea- 
sure, so  it  is  altogether  contrary  to  our  faith  and  practice 
to  put  any  manner  of  slight  or  contempt  upon  them  ;  much 
more,  of  being  guilty  of  what  maliciously  is  suggested 
against  us  ;  since  no  Society  of  professed  Christians  in  the 
world,  can  have  a  more  reverent  and  honourable  esteem 
for  them  than  we  have."— Page  878.  1698, 


GEORGE  WHITEHEAD. 

From  the  Journal  of  this  worthy  Friend,  I  take  the  fol- 
lowing extracts : — 

"  1  always  had  a  love  to  the  Bible,  and  to  reading 
therein,  from  my  childhood,  yet  did  not  truly  understand 

22* 


258 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCKIPTTIRES. 


nor  experience  those  doctrines  essential  to  salvation,  nor 
the  new  covenant  dispensation,  until  my  mind  was  turned 
to  the  light  of  Christ,  the  living,  eternal  Word,  the  entrance 
whereof  giveth  light  and  understanding  to  the  simple.  Yet 
1  do  confess  it  was  some  advantage  to  me  frequently  to 
read  the  holy  Scriptures  when -I  was  ignorant,  and  did  not 
understand  the  great  and  excellent  things  or  matters 
therein  testified  of ;  for  when  the  Lord  had  livingly,  in 
some  measure,  opened  my  understanding  in  the  holy 
Scripture  ;  by  my  often  reading  the  same  before,  having 
the  better  remembrance  thereof,  it  was  a  help  and  ad- 
vantage to  my  secret  meditations,  when  a  lively  sense  and 
comfort  of  the  Scriptures  was  in  measure  given  me  by  the 
Spirit ;  and  thereby  I  was  the  more  induced  to  the  serious 
reading  and  consideration  of  what  I  read  in  the  holy 
Scriptures,  and  the  comfort  thereof  made  known  by  the 
Holy  Spirit  enlightening  the  understanding  ;  All  the  pro- 
mises of  God,  which  are  yea  and  amen  in  Christ  Jesus, 
being  truly  comfortable,  when  applied  by  the  same  Spirit, 
for  that  will  make  no  wrong  application  thereof ;  that 
Spirit  will  never  apply  peace  to  the  wicked,  nor  to  persons 
living  in  their  sins,  nor  tell  the  unjust  that  they  are  just  or 
righteous  in  God's  sight. 

"  It  is  through  faith,  which  is  in  Christ,  that  the  holy 
Scriptures  are  said  to  make  the  man  of  God  wise  unto  sal- 
vation, and  profitable  to  him  for  doctrine,  reproof,  admo- 
nition and  instruction  in  righteousness,  that  he  may  be 
perfect,  and  thoroughly  furnished  in  every  good  word  and 
work.  Doubtless  Paul  esteemed  Timothy's  knowing  the 
holy  Scriptures  from  a  child,  to  be  some  advantage  and 
help  to  him,  but  it  was  principally  through  faith,  which  is 
in  Christ  Jesus. 

These  things  considered,  I  would  not  have  Christian 
parents  remiss  in  educating  and  causing  their  children  to 
read  the  holy  Scriptures,  but  to  induce  them  both  to  learn 
and  frequently  to  read  therein,  (that  is,  the  Bible.)  It  may 
be  of  real  advantage  and  profitable  to  them,  when  they 
come  to  have  their  understandings  enlightened,  and  to 
know  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Christ  Jesus." — Pages  15,  16. 
 1659. 

When  a  person  fearing  God  and  loving  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  in  sincerity  and  truth,  confesseth  his  or  her  real 
belief,  faith,  or  hope,  in  terms  of  holy  Scripture,  it  is  suf- 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTUEE5. 


259 


ficient  :  whether  it  be  of  the  suffering,  death,  resurrection, 
or  ascension  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  into  heaven  and 
glory,  or  of  his  body  being  spiritual  and  glorit>us  in  heaven. 
And  as  the  Saints,  being  spiritually  united  to  him,  are  bis 
church  and  body  also,  and  esteemed  mystical  while  here 
on  earth,  so  their  low  or  humble  body  shall  be  changed 
and  fashioned  like  unto  his  glorious  body :  and  of  the  re- 
surrection of  the  dead,  both  of  the  just  and  unjust,  and  of 
eternal  judgment  according  to  holy  Scripture  :  I  say,  who- 
soever, fearing  God,  or  friends  of  truth,  are  at  any  time 
questioned  about  these  things,  it  will  be  sufficient,  and 
ought  to  be  satisfactory,  to  answer  them  in  plain  Scripture 
language,  and  keep  to  the  same  :  And  1  would  advise  all 
Friends  to  keep  to  the  words,  terms,  language  and  doc- 
trine of  holy  Scripture,  and  not  to  be  wheedled  or  drawn 
from  the  same,  nor  suffer  themselves  to  be  imposed  upon, 
either  with  unscriptural  terms  or  unlearned  questions,  by 
any  contentious  or  carping  adversaries  whatsoever.  For 
foolish  and  unlearned  questions,  as  well  as  profane  and 

vain  babbling,  must  be  avoided." — Pages  183,  184.  

1659. 

"  Question  2. — Whether  the  Scriptures  be  the  rule  to 
try  doctrines  and  spirits  ? 

"  Answer. — The  holy  Scriptures  are  truly  owned  and 
esteemed  a  rule  subordinate  to  the  Holy  Spirit,  from  which 
they  were  given  forth ;  and  by  the  help  of  the  same  Spirit, 
doctrines  and  spirits  may  be  tried ;  but  the  Spirit  is  the 
supreme,  universal  guide  and  rule,  which  affords  light  and 
understanding  to  discern  and  try  both  spirits  and  doc- 
trines, to  the  truly  spiritually  minded  ;  for  discerning  of 
spirits  is  a  spiritual  gift  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  1  Cor.  xii.  10." 
—P.  190,  191. 

In  a  work,  entitled  "  Antichrist  in  Flesh  Unmasked,  and 
the  Quakers'  Christianity  vindicated,"  <fcc.  published  in 
1692,  I  find  the  following  expressions  : — 

"  Out  of  your  brother  Thomas  Hicks'  dialogue,  you 
represent  the  Quaker  to  answer  thus,  viz. — '  When  we 
make  use  of  the  Scripture,  it  is  only  to  quiet  and  stop  their 
clamours,  that  plead  for  it  as  their  rule.' 

"  This  is  one  of  your  brother  Hicks'  gross  forgeries  in 
the  Quakers'  name,  which  you  have  taken  on  trust  out  of 
his  fictitious  dialogue".  Oh !  blush  and  be  ashamed  of 
adopting  and  promoting  such  false  and  deceitful  stuff ;  and 


260 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES. 


also  of  your  subjoining,  in  the  person  of  the  Quakers,  this 
forgery,  viz. — '  We  own  not  the  Scriptures  ;  we  seemingly 
allow  it,  but  our  end  in  this  is  only  to  stop  their  clamours 
that  plead  for  it  as  their  rule."" — P.  17. 

Again,  p.  21. — "  You  most  shamefully  belie  the  people 
called  Quakers,  in  your  comparison,  p.  1 8,  where  you  say : 
'  The  names  they  [that  is,  the  Quakers]  give  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  [are]  viz.  no  better  than  an  old  almanac,  pre- 
cepts and  traditions  of  men,'  "  &c. 

"  We  know  none  among  us  that  call  the  Holy  Scriptures 
a  dead  or  carnal  letter,  nor  do  we  own  the  words.  By 
the  Holy  Scriptures,  we  intend  the  holy  testimonies  and 
doctrine  of  faith  and  practice  therein  contained,  which  is 
both  living  and  spiritual  to  them  that  are  alive  unto  God  in 
Christ.  Though  the  outward  letter  or  writing  in  itself 
alone  be  dead,  the  holy  matter  contained  in  it,  is  living  to 
them  that  are  living  and  spiritual." — P.  22. 

"  To  conclude  in  general  against  your  false  charges, 
and  manifold  abuses  and  calumnies  contained  in  your  said 
book,  viz.  '  Antichrist  in  Spirit and  to  anticipate  further 
objections  on  the  matters  herein,  we  sincerely  profess  and 
declare  in  the  sight  of  God  and  men,  that  we  do  faithfully 
believe  and  profess,  that  the  holy  Scriptures  of  the  Old 
and  New  Testament,  were  given  by  Divine  inspiration." — 
P.  27. 

In  a  pamphlet,  entitled  "  Innocency  Triumphant  over 
insolency  and  outrage,"  &c.  George  Whitehead  has  in- 
serted a  declaration  of  the  Christian  belief  of  Friends,  from 
which  the  following  articles  are  extracted,  viz. — 

4th.  The  holy  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testa- 
ment, viz.  the  holy  doctrine  and  divine  precepts  therein, 
were  first  given  by  Divine  inspiration,  as  we  have  confessed 
unto  authority,  and  in  no  wise  to  be  contemned,  but  seri- 
ously read,  believed  and  fulfilled,  as  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord 
giveth  understanding  and  ability,  being  the  fife  of  the  Scrip- 
ture; and  without  which,  the  mere  letter,  and  all  preaching 
therefrom,  in  man's  will,  is  dead  and  ineffectual. 

"  6th.  The  divine  precepts  and  doctrine  contained  in 
the  holy  Scriptures,  we  must  needs  believe  to  be  holy 
and  blessed,  not  only  because  they  proceed  from  the  Holy 
Spirit,  but  also  because  they  require  holiness  and  righteous- 
ness in  life  and  practice,  under  the  several  dispensations  of 
God  to  mankind."  1693. 


ox  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTLRES. 


261 


In  the  "  Supplement  to  the  Switch  for  the  snake  in  the 
grass,"  George  Whitehead  thus  writes,  viz. — 

"  For  my  part,  as  I  am  not  in  the  least  conscious  to 
myself,  of  the  least  contempt  of  holy  Scripture,  nor  yet  of 
the  Bible,  for  I  have  always  preferred  it  to  all  other  books 
extant  in  the  world,  and  more  affected  reading  therein  than 
any  other  book,  even  from  my  childhood,  and  often  bless 
Divine  Providence,  for  preserving  to  us  the  Scriptures  ;  so 
1  know  of  none  among  us  guilty  of  contemning  them." 

"  Neither  do  I  vilify  the  written  doctrine  and  precepts 
of  God  in  comparison  of  our  new  light,  as  he  falsely  calls  it, 
but  reverently  esteem  them.  The  man  makes  no  con- 
science of  defaming  us.  Neither  do  we  quarrel  with  the 
law  and  the  testimony;  nor  yet  with  writing  or  Scripture, 
as  'tis  in  ink  and  paper,  but  distinguish  between  the  writ- 
ing and  the  things  written,  which  is  no  contempt  to  either. 
We  are  thankful  to  Divine  Providence,  for  both  the  Scrip- 
ture or  writing,  and  the  holy  doctrine,  and  divine  precepts 
therein  written,  for  they  testify  unto  Christ  our  light,  and 
our  hght  to  the  truth  of  them."— P.  493,494.  1699. 

In  a  work,  entitled  "  Truth  Prevalent,"  &lc.  under  the 
head  of  "  Twelve  Summary  Propositions  in  behalf  of  the 
people  called  Quakers,"  he  says : — 

"  6th.  Of  the  Scripture.  The  holy  Scriptures  of  the  Old 
and  New  Testament,  being  tirst  given  by  divine  inspiration 
from  God,  and  eminently  confirmed,  and  by  Divine  Provi- 
dence preserved,  are  not  only  of  divine  authority,  but  are  by 
us,  the  said  people,  preferred  to  all  other  books  and  writings 
extant  in  the  world ;  and  with  due  reverence  ought  (by 
such  as  have  or  may  have  them)  to  be  read,  believed  and 
fulfilled,  with  the  help  of  the  same  Holy  Spirit,  from  which 
they  first  came,  and  which  can  only  give  us  the  true  under- 
standing, profit  and  comfort  thereof,  as  well  as  enable  us  to 
live  and  practise  accordingly." 

Replying  to  the  false  accusations  of  some  envious  oppo- 
sers,  he  says  : — 

'Tis  a  presumptuous  falsehood,  that  '  the  Quakers 
would  not  be  much  concerned  to  see  the  Scriptures  burned 
with  the  books  of  sorcery an  abominable  falsehood ! 
We  esteem  and  value  the  Bible  above  all  other  books 
extant  in  the  world,  and  desire  ever  to  live  in  the  faith  and 
practice  of  the  Christian  doctrines  therein  contained,  (they 


262 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES. 


tending  to  salvation,)  by  the  help  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  which 
gave  them  forth." — Ibid.  p.  79. 

"  'Tis  not  truly  alleged  against  me,  'that  there  is  nothing 
needful  to  be  known  of  Jesus  Christ  without,  or  of  what  he 
hath  done,  suffered  and  taught  us  for  our  salvation.'  For 
1st,  We  truly  believe  all  the  same.  2dly,  All  therefore 
which  he  hath  taught  us  for  our  salvation,  is  needful  to  be 
known  by  us,  and  by  all  men  to  whom  the  same  know- 
ledge is  offered,  both  respecting  Christ  without  us,  and 
what  he  hath  done,  suffered,  and  taught  us  for  our  salva- 
tion ;  which  yet  cannot  be  truly  known,  nor  the  fruit  of 
his  suffering  for  us  received,  without  the  spiritual  know- 
ledge of  the  same  Christ,  or  knowing  him  after  the  Spirit 
within,  this  being  true  proof  of  our  being  in  the  faith." — 
Ibid.  88. 

"  We  are  so  far  from  a  profane  neglect  of  holy  Scrip- 
ture in  determining  matters  of  faith  and  doctrine,  (where 
the  same  are  expressed,)  and  from  turning  the  Scriptures 
out  of  office,  that  we  do  not  only  take  serious  notice  of 
holy  Scripture  in  such  matters,  but  submit  them,  where 
expressed,  to  be  determined  by  and  according  to  holy 
Scripture,  as  an  external  test  and  rule  in  such  manifest 
cases,  which  the  witness  of  God  in  the  true  church  and 
faithful  members  thereof,  can  never  oppose  or  disagree'^to, 
but  confirm,  and  make  true  impression  of  such  determina- 
tion."—P.  106.  1701. 


ISAAC  PENNINGTON. 

In  an  essay,  entitled  "  A  Visit  of  tender  and  upright 
Love,"  &;c.  he  says — 

"  We  do  indeed  really,  heartily,  singly,  as  in  God's  sight, 
own  the  Scriptures  ;  the  Scriptures  written  by  the  prophets 
and  holy  men  of  God  under  the  law;  the  Scriptures  writ- 
ten by  the  evangelists  and  apostles  in  the  time  of  the  gospel ; 
and  we  read  them  with  delight  and  joy,  and  would  draw 
no  man  from  a  right  reading  of  them,  to  the  benefit  of  his 
soul ;  but  only  from  giving  their  own  judgments  on  them 
without  the  Spirit  of  God  ;  lest  in  so  doing  they  wrest  them 
to  their  own  destruction. 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES. 


263 


"  This  is  that  which  the  Lord  hath  drawn  us  from,  and 
which  we  know  it  would  also  be  profitable  to  others  to  be 
drawn  from  too ;  to  wit,  from  imagining,  and  guessing  at 
the  meaning  of  Scriptures,  and  interpreting  them  without 
the  opening  of  that  Spirit  from  which  they  were  given 
forth ;  for  they  who  do  so,  feed  that  part  (with  a  gathered 
knowledge)  which  should  be  famished,  die,  and  perish,  that 
another  thing  might  come  to  live  in  them,  and  they  in  it." 

— Vol.  iii.  p.  184.  1668. 

In  a  "  Reply  to  some  Animadversions,"  he  says — 
"  Yet  though  we  do  own  Christ  to  be  the  rule,  we  do 
not  deny  making  use  of  the  Scriptures,  to  try  doctrines  and 
forms  of  religion  by  :  but  know,  that  what  is  of  God,  doth 
and  will  agree  therewith,  and  what  doth  not  agree  there- 
with, is  not  of  God ;  and  that  our  forefathers  in  the  faith, 
were  led  to  batter  the  superstitions  and  idolatries  of  the 
papists,  by  the  testimonies  of  the  Scriptures." — Vol.  iv.  p. 
208.  1667. 


HUMPHREY  SMITH, 

In  a  treatise,  entitled  "  The  True  Rule  Discovered,  &:c." 
after  speaking  of  the  light  and  Spirit  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  as  the  primary  rule  for  the  government  of  the  saints, 
says — 

"What  then?  do  1  herein  in  the  least  make  void,  con- 
temn, slight,  vilify,  or  deny  the  Scriptures  ?  God  forbid  ; 
nay,  1  had  rather  my  pen  might  fall  out  of  my  hand,  or  my 
arm  from  my  shoulder,  or  my  tongue  cleave  to  the  roof  of 
my  mouth  for  ever,  than  I  should  go  about  to  make  void 
the  Scriptures  of  truth,  (and  is  a  true  declaration,  Luke  i. 
1.)  which  were  given  forth  from  that  which  is  my  life, 
which  is  hid,  not  in  the  Scriptures,  but  with  Christ  in  God, 
Col.  iii.  3.  And  the  Word  was  God,  and  that  which  was 
God,  is  God,  John  i.  1.  but  if  I  should  say  the  Scriptures 
are  God,  1  should  be  a  blaspiiemer,  like  unto  others  :  Do  I 
herein  deny  the  Scriptures  ?  Nay,  rather,  I  establish  the 
Scripture  in  its  place,  and  make  use  of  it  as  a  cloud  of 
witnesses  by  me,  in  directing  all  people  unto  that  which 
the  Scriptures  testify  of,  and  were  given  forth  from,  John 
V.  39.  that  by  it  in  them,  they  might  be  enabled  to  do 


264 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCKIPTURES. 


God's  will,  and  witness  the  Scriptures  fulfilled,  as  it  is 
written,  1  will  walk  in  them  and  dwell  in  them :  and  he  is 
the  God  of  them  in  whom  he  dwells,  and  they  are  his  peo- 
ple in  whom  he  walks,  from  whose  inspiration  the  Scrip- 
ture came,  in  which  it  is  written,  '  prove  all  things,'  &;c." 
—P.  153.  1658. 

In  an  account  of  a  dialogue  between  himself  and  a  priest, 
he  thus  replies  to  the  query,  *  whether  the  Scriptures  are 
the  word  of  God  ?' 

"  The  Scriptures  I  own  and  witness  to  be  a  true  decla- 
ration (Luke  i.  1.)  spoken  forth  by  holy  men  of  God,  as 
they  were  moved  by  the  Spirit,  2  Pet.  i.  21.  and  they  are 
those  that  testify  of  Christ."  1655. 


RICHARD  HUBBERTHORN. 

In  reply  to  Thomas  Winterton,  who  charged  the  So- 
ciety of  Friends  with  denying  the  holy  Scriptures  to  be 
any  guide  for  men  to  walk  by,  Richard  Hubberthorn  re- 
plies— - 

"  Which  words  are  thy  own,  and  were  not  so  spoken  by 
any  of  us.  But  to  thee  I  say,  that  the  Scriptures,  which 
did  foresee  that  which  we  now  do  see,  we  own  to  be  one 
with  the  light,  which  was  before  the  letter,  and  to  be  our 
guide  in  the  way  of  truth  ;  and  this  guide  is  within  us  :  but 
by  the  Scripture  letter  without  thee,  thou  neither  sees  nor 
foresees  the  things  which  belong  to  eternal  life  ;  which,  if 
ever  any  come  to  see,  it  must  be  by  the  light  of  Christ 
within  them  ;  and  all  who  own  this  light,  and  by  it  are 
guided,  cannot  deny  the  Scriptures  which  were  spoken 
forth  from  the  light  within."— Pages  76,  77.  1656. 

In  a  discourse  which  R.  Hubberthorn  had  with  king 
Charles  II.,  the  latter  asked  him — 

"  How  did  you  first  come  to  believe  the  Scriptures  were 
truth  ?" 

R.  H.  "  I  have  believed  the  Scriptures  from  a  child,  to 
be  a  declaration  of  truth,  when  I  had  but  a  literal  know- 
ledge, natural  education,  and  tradition ;  but  now  I  know 
the  Scriptures  to  be  true,  by  the  manifestation  and  opera- 
tion of  the  Spirit  of  God,  fulfilling  them  in  me." — P.  271. 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES. 


2G5 


WILLIAM  DEWSBERY. 

From  an  essay,  entitled  "Christ  Exalted,  &c."  the  (oU 
lowing  query  and  reply  are  extracted,  viz. — 

"  Whether  any  other  revelations  and  observations,  not 
to  be  found  in  the  Scripture,  be  binding  to  the  consciences 
of  those  persons  that  have  the  benefit  of  the  Scripture  ;  or 
whether  such  revelation,  or  dictates  within  a  man's  heart 
and  soul,  be  as  binding  to  the  conscience,  and  to  be  urged 
to  a  man's  self,  or  others,  as  the  Scriptures  are  ? 

"  Answer.  The  revelations  of  Jesus  Christ  are  accord- 
ing to  Scripture  ;  which  revelation  binds  up  the  testimony, 
and  seals  the  law,  in  the  hearts  of  his  disciples ;  and  what 
dictates  are  in  the  conscience  or  heart  of  man,  contrary  to 
the  law  and  testimony,  are  not  to  be  regarded,  but  disown- 
ed and  judged  with  the  light  which  comes  from  Christ, 
the  saint's .  life,  who  guides  them  in  a  pure  life  and  holy 
conversation,  according  to  Scripture,  Isaiah  viii.  20." — 
Works,  p.  143,  149.  1G56. 


RICHARD  FARNSWORTH. 

In  a  "  Confession  and  Profession  of  Faith  in  God,''  &lc. 
issued  by  this  Friend,  is  the  following  paragraph,  viz. — 

"  That  which  in  the  holy  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New 
Testament,  is  declared  and  testified  of  to  be  the  Word  of 
God,  that  we  believe  in,  own  and  confess  to  be  the  Word 
of  God,  according  to  the  Scriptures.  And  the  holy  Scrip- 
tures of  the  Old  and  New  Testament,  as  they  are  the  words 
of  God,  so  to  be  we  own  :  knowing  this  first,  that  no  pro- 
phecy of  the  Scripture  came  in  old  time  by  the  will  of 
man,  but  holy  men  of  God  spake  as  they  were  moved  by 
the  Holy  Ghost,  2  Pet.  i.  21.  Who  prophesied  of  the 
grace  that  should  come  unto  the  saints  and  us,  in  after 
ages ;  searching  what,  or  what  manner  of  time,  the  Spirit 
of  Christ  which  was  in  them  did  signify,  when  it  testified 
beforehand  the  sufferings  of  Christ,  and  the  glory  that 
should  follow  :  unto  whom  it  was  revealed,  that  not  unto 
themselves,  but  unto  us  they  did  minister  the  things  which 
are  now  declared  unto  you,  by  them  that  have  preached 
23 


266 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES. 


the  gospel  unto  you,  with  the  Holy  Ghost  sent  down  from 
Heaven,  1  Pet.  i.  10.  12.  And  God  spake  all  these  words, 
saying,  1  am  the  Lord  thy  God,  (fee.  Exod.  xx.  So  the 
words  and  sayings  of  God  we  do  not  deny,  but  own  them 
so  to  be,  according  to  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New 
Testament,  as  aforesaid." — P.  4.  1658. 


EDWARD  BURROUGH. 

From  his  reply  to  Christopher  Fowler,  the  following  ex- 
pressions are  extracted : — 

"  The  Word  of  God  was  in  the  beginning,  before  any 
creatures  were  made ;  and  by  it  all  things  stand  and  re- 
main unto  this  day;  and  the  Word  endures  for  ever,  and 
by  it,  all  things  in  Heaven  and  in  earth  are  brought  to  pass, 
which  God  doth ;  and  it  is  from  everlasting  to  everlasting, 
without  beginning  and  without  end  ;  and  the  Word  is  pow- 
erful, dividing  and  discerning  all  things,  even  the  secret 
thoughts  of  every  man's  heart ;  it  is  as  a  two  edged  sword, 
and  as  a  fire,  and  like  a  hammer,  to  cut  up,  to  burn,  and  to 
beat  down.  The  Word  of  the  Lord  reconciles  man  again 
to  Him ;  and  this  Word  is  in  the  mouth  and  in  the  heart, 
and  the  servants  of  the  Lord  handled,  tasted,  saw,  and  felt 
the  Word  of  life ;  and  from  it,  spoke  forth  the  Scriptures 
as  they  were  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  through  the  eternal 
Spirit ;  and  it  is  a  declaration  of  the  Word  of  life,  which 
was  in  the  beginning,  and  endures  for  ever;  and  it  declares 
what  the  saints  received,  believed  and  enjoyed,  and  none 
can  understand  it  without  the  same  spirit  that  gave  it  forth, 
and  to  such  who  have  the  same  spirit,  the  Scripture  is  pro- 
fitable :  The  Word  of  God,  which  was  in  the  beginning, 
and  which  endures  for  ever,  is  not  the  Scripture ;  which 
was  not  in  the  beginning,  neither  can  it  endure  for  ever; 
but  the  Scripture  testifies  of  that  Word,  and  that  Word 
witnesses  to  the  Scriptures  ;  and  they  are  not  contrary  one 
to  the  other,  but  give  witness  each  of  other ;  but  many  have 
the  Scripture  that  have  not  the  Word,  neither  know  it ;  but 
they  that  have  the  Word,  cannot  but  own  the  Scriptures ; 
and  this  is  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  testified  to  all  the 
world  by  us  ;  who  do  deny  them,  that  hereof  give  any  other 
testimony."— P.  249.  1659. 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES, 


267 


In  a  work,  entitled  "  Satan's  Design  Defeated,"  &lc.  I 
find  the  following  accusation  and  reply,  viz. — 

"  The  Quakers  hold,  '  that  the  Holy  Scriptures  are  not 
the  Word  of  God,  nor  the  saints'  rule  of  faith  and  life, 
neither  is  it  the  duty  of  every  one  to  search  them.' 

"  Answer.  The  Holy  Scriptures  were  given  forth  by 
the  Spirit  of  the  Lord,  as  holy  men  of  God  were  moved  ; 
they  are  the  words  of  God,  and  a  declaration  and  a  trea- 
tise, Luke  i.  1.  and  that  which  the  saints  had  handled  and 
tasted  of  the  Word  of  life,  that  they  declared  forth  in  words 
and  writings,  Acts  i.  1.  and  the  Scriptures,  as  they  were 
given  forth  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  are  a  true  declaration  of 
what  is  to  be  believed  and  practised,  in  relation  to  eternal 
salvation  :  It  is  a  true  testimony  concerning  God  and  his 
mighty  works,  and  of  truth  and  righteousness  ;  and  it  is  a 
testimony  also  of  the  devil,  and  what  he  is,  and  of  his 
deceits  and  errors,  and  unrighteousness  :  so  the  Scriptures 
are  words  given  forth  by  the  Spirit,  but  Christ  is  the  Word, 
that  was  before  the  Scriptures  were  :  For  in  the  beginning 
was  the  Word  of  God,  and  the  world  was  made  by  it,  and 
the  Word  shall  endure  for  ever,  and  Christ's  name  is  called 
the  Word  of  God.  And  though  the  Scriptures  are  profit- 
able, and  were  given  forth  to  be  read,  and  to  be  fulfilled, 
yet  they  are  not  the  rule  and  guide  of  faith  and  life  unto 
the  saints,  but  the  Spirit  of  God,  that  gave  forth  the  Scrip- 
tures, that  is  the  rule  and  guide,  the  teacher  and  leader 
into  all  truth  ;  and  they  that  are  led  by  the  Spirit  of  God, 
are  the  sons  of  God  ;  and  if  you  walk  in  the  spirit,  saith 
the  apostle,  you  shall  live  :  and  as  many  as  walk  according 
to  this,  (to  wit,  of  the  spirit,)  peace  is  upon  them  ;  and  so 
the  Spirit  of  God  is  the  rule  of  the  saint's  faith  and  life; 
and  the  Spirit  leads  them  to  walk  in  the  fulfilling  of  the 
Scriptures,  and  according  to  them." — P.  514.  1659. 


FRANCIS  HOWGILL. 

In  a  treatise,  entitled  "  The  True  Rule,  Judge  and  Guide 
of  the  True  Church  Discovered,"  &;c.  I  find  the  follow- 
ing testimony  to  the  purity  and  excellence  of  the  sacred 
volume.  After  stating  that  the  mere  words  of  Scripture  are 
not  the  only  rule  of  faith  and  practice,  he  proceeds  : — 


268 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES. 


"  Yet  I  cannot  detract  from  them,  neither  undervahie 
them,  or  disesteem  them  as  uncertain,  or  of  no  use,  or*  of 
Httle  use  :  but  whatever  themselves  declare  themselves  to 
be,  that  I  own  them  to  be,  to  wit,  the  words  of  God,  the 
words  of  Christ,  the  words  of  the  holy  prophets  and  patri- 
archs, and  apostles,  who  were  endued  with  the  Holy  Ghost, 
and  spake  forth  the  Scripture  as  they  were  moved  thereby,, 
in  several  ages,  of  several  things,  and  unto  several  states 
and  conditions,  as  they  were  led  thereto  by  the  Holy  Spirit ; 
and  they  are  a  certain  declaration  of  things  that  were  done, 
and  believed,  and  practised  by  the  Jews  under  the  first 
covenant,  and  by  the  apostles  and  primitive  Christians  in 
the  new  covenant,  and  contain  many  precious  and  holy 
precepts,  and  commands,  doctrines,  examples,  exhortations, 
admonitions,  reproofs  and  instructions  ;  and  are  as  lively 
examples  and  holy  patterns  for  all  the  saints  in  light  to  fol- 
low ;  by  which  we  are  given  to  understand  what  faith, 
what  hope,  what  patience,  what  love,  what  mercy,  what 
long  sufferings,  what  consolation,  what  virtue,  and  what 
inheritance  the  saints  in  light  were  made  partakers  of, 
through  faith  in  Christ  Jesus  ;  likewise  what  doctrines  were 
held  forth,  and  what  practice  they  used,  in  the  primitive 
times,  when  they  walked  in  the  order  of  the  gospel,  and 
had  fellowship  with  God  the  Father  and  the  Son,  and  one 
with  another  in  the  light  of  the  gospel,  which  is  the  power 
of  God,  through  which  they  witnessed  salvation  and  remis- 
sion of  sins,  and  published  it  unto  others,  that  they  might 
beheve. 

"  Thirdly.  The  Scriptures  testify  of  Christ,  and  were 
written  that  they  might  be  believed,  and  received,  and  read, 
that  thereby  every  one  that  believed,  might  be  made  wise 
to  salvation,  through  faith  in  Christ  Jesus,  2  Tim.  iii.  and 
instructed  in  righteousness,  that  the  man  of  God  may  be 
perfect,  thoroughly  furnished  with  all  good  works  :  And 
whosoever  doth  teach  any  doctrines,  contrary  unto  the  holy 
men  of  God,  who  spake  as  they  were  moved  by  the  Spirit 
of  God,  which  dwelt  in  them  ;  the  Scriptures  are  witnesses 
against  such,  that  they  have  not  the  Spirit  of  God,  but  are 
led  by  another  spirit,  which  brings  forth  contrary  doctrine, 
and  another  faith,  than  was  once  dehvered  among  the  saints : 
And  whosoever  brings  in,  sets  up  other  precepts,  constitu- 
tions, orders,  and  practices,  in  point  of  worship,  in  oppo- 
sition and  contrary  unto  those  practices,  which  were  held 


ON  THE  HOLT  SCRIPTURES. 


269 


forth  in  the  primitive  times,  and  would  set  up  other  tradi- 
tions than  the  apostles  delivered,  either  by  word  or  writ- 
ing, such  are  manifest  to  have  the  spirit  of  error,  and  are 
innovators,  and  bringers  in  of  other  things,  as  necessary  in 
point  of  worship  among  Christians,  which  the  apostles  and 
ministers  of  Christ  did  not  see  necessary  then ;  and  yet 
they  wanted  no  part  of  the  counsel  of  God  ;  for  Paul  said, 
he  had  declared  the  whole  counsel  of  God ;  and  further- 
more they  said,  we  have  the  mind  of  Christ,  and  Christ's 
mind  is  not  variable. 

"  Fourthly.  Though  divers  of  the  writings  of  the  pro- 
phets and  apostles  be  lost,  doubtless,  as  is  evident  by  divers 
places  of  Scripture ;  yet  blessed  be  God,  that  there  are 
those  preserved  which  do  bear  witness  of  the  one  thing 
absolutely  necessary  unto  salvation ;  and  of  the  ministra- 
tions  that  were  appointed  of  the  Lord,  for  the  church  of 
God  to  observe,  both  in  the  first  and  second  covenants ;  so 
that  Christians  of  this  last  age  are  not  left  without  example 
and  precedent,  which  all  ought  to  have  an  eye  unto,  and  a 
diligent  regard  :  And  though  there  be  divers  copies  of  that 
which  is  called  the  original  tongue,  and  divers  translations, 
yet  he  unto  whom  the  Spirit  of  God  is  given,  and  waiteth 
in  the  measure  of  Christ's  light,  shall  receive  it ;  doth  see, 
and  shall  see  the  mind  and  will  of  God  in  every  age,  and 
the  mind  and  intent  of  the  Spirit  in  them  that  spoke  forth 
the  Scriptnre  ;  and  can  receive  the  matter  therein  con- 
tained, as  though  they  had  heard  them  speak  that  spoke  it 
at  the  first :  And  though  the  translators  were  men,  yet  I 
have  such  an  honourable  esteem  of  their  labour,  that  I 
believe  they  have  not  varied  wittingly  and  willingly  from 
the  best  copies  that  were  extant  in  their  age ;  neither  that 
they  were  altogether  void  of  the  Spirit  of  God  in  such  a 
good  work,  which  conduced  to  the  benefit  of  mankind,  but 
were  assisted  by  it  for  so  good  a  work  :  And  there  be  many 
figures  and  tropes,  improprieties  of  speech,  mysteries  and 
difficulties  ;  yet  all  these  come  to  be  made  easy  and  plain 
to  them  that  are  witnesses  of  the  same  Spirit  that  gave  them 
forth  ;  and  though  there  be  diversity  of  judgments  and  pro- 
fessions of  religion,  one  clashing  against  another,  thwarting 
and  contradicting  another,  and  all  will  seem  to  bring  the 
Scripture  for  their  proof,  which  yet  cannot  maintain  and 
prove  every  thing  good,  especially  when  their  doctrines 
contradict  one  another ;  this  is  granted,  it  is  only  their 

23* 


270 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES. 


private  interpretation,  and  not  the  Scripture  ;  and  for  want 
of  that  Spirit  that  gave  it  forth,  for  that  alone  gives  the  true 
understanding  of  it :  and  they  that  are  without  this,  are  hke 
to  kill  one  another,  about  words  and  names,  sounds,  titles 
and  iotas,  but  still  want  the  key  that  opens,  and  gives  an 
entrance  into  the  knowledge  of  the  things  of  God,  which 
alone  is  the  Spirit  of  God  that  gave  forth  the  Scriptures." 
—P.  636,  637.  1665. 


ROBERT  RUCKHILL  AND  JOHN  WHITEHEAD. 

In  the  year  1673,  these  two  Friends  published  a  treatise, 
entitled  "  The  Quakers'  Refuge  fixed  upon  the  Rock  of 
Ages,"  &LC.  in  reply  to  several  niisrepresentations  which 
had  been  circulated  relative  to  the  Society.  From  this 
work  the  following  extract  is  made.  After  stating  several 
matters  which  are  not  the  subject  of  the  constroversy,  they 
proceed : — 

"  But  such  Scriptures  and  prophecies  as  have  been 
written  and  prophesied  by  the  holy  men  of  God,  as  they 
were  moved  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  treating  of  the  mystery 
of  God  in  the  redemption  and  salvation  of  mankind  by 
Jesus  Christ,  and  the  duty  of  man  in  his  obedience  to,  and 
worship  of,  the  same  God,  as  his  reasonable  service  for  the 
gift  of  so  great  salvation,  are  the  great  concerns  now 
under  our  most  serious  consideration.  The  people  of 
God,  scornfully  called  Quakers,  have  unfeignedly  believed 
and  often  declared  to  the  world,  that  the  Scriptures,  as 
above  distinguished,  are  a  true  record  and  declaration  of 
the  love  of  God  in  the  redemption  and  salvation  of  man- 
kind by  Jesus  Christ,and  also  of  the  duty  of  man  as  before 
recited.  But  they  also  believe  and  have  declared  to  all 
the  world,  that  the  carnal  mind  of  man,  being  at  enmity 
with  God,  and  darkened  by  reason  of  wicked  works,  can- 
not perceive  nor  discern  the  mystery  of  God  in  the  Scrip- 
tures declared  and  testified  of."— Page  17.  1673. 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCKIPTUEES. 


271 


CHARLES  MARSHALL. 

The  fourth  article  of  a  declaration  of  faith  issued  by 
this  Friend  is  as  follows,  viz. — 

"  4th.  We  declare  we  are  so  far  from  denying  or  having 
any  light  esteem  of  that  holy,  honourable  record,  viz.  the 
Scriptures  of  truth,  that  we  are  often  greatly  bowed  and 
tendered  in  spirit,  in  the  sense  of  the  great  mercy  and  love 
of  our  God  ;  that  although  the  wicked  have  been  suffered 
to  persecute,  revile,  and  evilly  to  represent  the  way  of  hfe 
and  salvation,  believed  and  preached  by  them,  and  also 
have  proceeded  to  kill  the  bodies  of  the  prophets  of  God, 
of  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord,  his  apostles  and  faithful  servants; 
that  yet  such  hath  been  his  great  and  unexpressible  love, 
to  preserve  their  precious  testimonies  unto  our  age  and 
generation." — Works,  p.  130.  1674. 


AVILLIAM  SHEWEN. 

From  a  work,  entitled  "  The  True  Christian's  Faith 
and  Experience  declared,  concerning  God,  Christ,  the 
Spirit,  the  Holy  Scriptures,  the  Gospel,  and  the  Doctrines 
thereof,  (fee."  the  following  paragraph  is  extracted,  viz. — 

"  The  true  Christian  honoureth  the  holy  Scriptures  in 
their  place,  and  believeth  and  receiveth  their  testimony, 
and  is  a  living  witness  to  the  truth  thereof,  and  he  demon- 
strateth  it  as  foUoweth  :  By  believing,  receiving,  and  obey- 
ing him  (viz.  Christ  Jesus)  of  whom  they  testify,  whereby 
he  receives  power  to  order  his  conversation  according  to 
them:  And  the  true  Christian  believeth  that  they  were 
spoken  and  written  by  the  motion  and  inspiration  of  the 
Spirit  of  God  in  holy  men,  prophets  and  apostles,  and  that 
it  is  his  duty  to  wait  upon  God  to  receive  the  Spirit  of 
grace  and  glory,  and  the  gifts  thereof,  of  whom  they  testify, 
that  thereby  he  may  be  enabled  to  read  them  with  under- 
standing, and  to  receive  the  comfort  of  them,  and  to  be 
made  wise,  through  faith  in  Christ,  unto  salvation  hy  them."" 
—Page  15.  1675. 


272 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCBIPTURES. 


EDWARD  BOURN. 

In  a  treatise,  written  in  answer  to  the  charges  contained 
in  a  pamphlet  by  Dr.  Thomas  Good,  he  thus  speaks  of  the 
Scriptures,  viz.— 

"  We  own  the  Scriptures  to  be  what  they  speak  of  them- 
selves, according  to  Luke's  preface,  where  he  writes  of  the 
gospel,  &c.  But  the  Word  is  God,  if  John  wrote  the  truth, 
which  we  believe  he  did,  as  thou  may  est  see,  John  i.  1.  and 
I  hope  thou  wilt  not  presume  to  say  to  the  contrary :  But 
we  own  the  Scriptures,  that  which  holy  men  spake  as  they 
were  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  to  be  the  words  of  God, 
and  that  which  was  the  saint's  rule  we  own  to  be  oUr  rule, 
as  the  Scriptures  testify  thereof;  see  John  xvi.  13.  and  Tit. 
ii.  11,  12."— Page  8.  1675. 


JAMES  JACKSON. 

From  an  essay,  entitled  "  The  Malice  of  the  Rebellious 
Husbandmen  against  the  true  Heir,  &C."  the  following  ex- 
tract is  made,  viz. — 

"  We  esteem  the  Scriptures  as  a  true  testimony  of  Christ. 
We  slight  not  nor  undervalue  the  Scriptures,  neither  do  we 
teach  others  so  to  do  ;  for  they  are  of  special  service  unto 
us  in  many  cases,  and  serve  also  for  the  commending  of 
our  principles,  lives,  and  doctrines  to  the  consciences  of 
men;  nevertheless,  we  prefer  Christ  before  them,  for  he 
was  before  them,  and  his  name  only  is  called  the  Word  of 
God."— Page  6.  1676. 


WILLIAM  GIBSON, 

In  a  work,  entitled  "  The  Life  of  God,  which  is  the  Light 
of  men  exalted,"  thus  replies  to  the  charge  that  the  Qua- 
kers' doctrine  of  the  grace  of  God  renders  the  Scriptures 
useless,  viz. — 

"  This  is  a  malicious  slander,  as  I  have  showed  before  ; 
for  we  do  dearly  own  the  Scriptures,  we  do  read  and  be- 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCBIPTURES. 


273 


lieve  them,  and  have  comfort  and  profit  in  them ;  being 
come  to  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God  and  Christ,  by  which  the 
holy  men  were  moved,  led,  and  guided  in  the  giving  of 
them  forth,  which  Spirit  only  gives  rightly  to  understand 
them  ;  and  we  do  daily  see  them  in  fulfilling,  to  our  great 
joy  and  comfort,  and  our  lives,  conversation,  and  doc- 
trines do  agree,  and  are  in  harmony,  with  them." — P.  38. 

On  page  87  of  the  same  work,  I  find  the  following,  viz. — 

"  We  believe  the  holy  men  gave  forth  the  Scriptures  as 
they  were  divinely  moved  and  inspired,  and  that  they  are 
profitable  and  comfortable  to  those  who  have  them,  who 
are  come  into  the  same  Spirit  by  which  the  holy  men  were 
moved  or  inspired  to  give  them  forth." 

"  We  do  own  and  believe  what  the  Scriptures  do  say 
concerning  God,  Christ,  the  Holy  Ghost,  Christ's  birth,  his 
preaching,  miracles,  sufferings,  death,  resurrection,  and 
ascension  ;  the  communion  or  fellowship  of  the  saints  in 
light  or  spirit;  the  forgiveness  of  the  sins  of  all  the  penitent ; 
and  the  resurrection  of  the  body  ;  and  that  everlasting  life 
is  prepared  for  those  that  die  to  sin  in  this  world  and  be- 
come dead  to  it,  such  live  to  God ;  and  when  such  die 
outwardly,  or  put  off  the  outward  tabernacle,  they  are 
blessed,  as  it  is  written.  Blessed  are  the  dead  that  die  in 
the  Lord,  yea,  saith  the  Spirit,  for  they  rest  from  their 
labours,  and  their  works  do  follow  them." — Page  87. 

"  The  people  called  Quakers  do  prefer  and  esteem  the 
book  called  the  Bible,  or  Holy  Scriptures,  above  any  out- 
ward writing  or  book  extant  upon  the  earth,  because  of 
the  verity  and  plenty  of  deep  heavenly  sayings  uttered  by 
God  unto  Moses  and  the  prophets,  through  the  several 
ages  of  the  world,  and  particularly  and  eminently  through 
the  heavenly  Man  Christ  Jesus,  who  was  anointed  with 
the  oil  of  gladness  above  his  fellows,  and  filled  with  the 
Spirit  without  measure." — P.  95.  1677. 


STEPHEN  SMITH, 

In  an  essay,  entitled  "  The  Life  of  Christ  Exalted,  &c." 
says — 

"  By  the  way,  let  it  be  remembered,  that  we  truly  own 
the  holy  Scriptures,  and  all  true  and  effectual  outward 


274 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES. 


teaching,  in  their  place,  as  proceeding  from  the  Holy  Spirit. 
2d.  That  by  the  assistance  of  the  same  Spirit  only,  the 
Scriptures,  &;c.  are  truly  to  be  understood,  and  be  made 
profitable."— Works,  p.  297. 
Again,  on  page  327 — 

"  The  Scriptures  we  must  needs  highly  own,  in  that  they 
refer  us  to,  and  exalt  Christ,  and  his  immediate  teaching 
of  his  divine  light  and  Spirit  within,  as  being  subservient 
thereto,  where  they  are  received  therein." 


ELIZABETH  BATHURST, 

In  a  work,  entitled  "  Truth's  Vindication,"  makes  these 
remarks —  ' 

"  Tn  the  first  place,  1  shall  begin  with  the  Holy  Scriptures, 
which  [it]  hath  been  said  by  some,  the  people  called  Qua- 
kers do  not  own. 

"  Answer.  That  [this]  is  a  great  slander,  their  many 
writings  and  declarations  make  manifestly  appear,  in  which 
their  testimonies  are  all  consonant  and  agreeable  to  the 
records  of  Scripture,  that  I  never  met  with  the  like  amongst 
any  other :  And  besides  this,  I  am  well  assured  of  it,  not 
only  from  their  own  witness  of  themselves,  but  from  the 
witness  of  God  in  my  own  breast ;  they  do  believe  all  things 
that  are  written  in  the  law  and  the  prophets  ;  so  that  those 
who  do  so  clamorously  charge  them,  cannot  prove  the 
things  whereof  they  so  much  accuse  thiem." — P.  1,  2. 

After  reciting  another  accusation  falsely  alleged  against 
the  Society  of  Friends,  she  replies — 

"  They  do  believe  the  Scriptures,  so  far  as  Scripture 
itself  requires  faith  in  itself ;  that  is,  that  they  are  able  to 
make  wise  unto  salvation,  through  faith  which  is  in  Christ 
Jesus,  being  given  by  inspiration  of  God,  according  to  that 
of  the  apostle,  2  Tim.  iii.  15,  16.  And  they  do  also  believe 
that  this  same  Jesus  here  spoken  of,  who  is  said  to  be  the 
Messenger  of  the  covenant,  Mai.  iii.  1,  the  same  and  not 
another,  did  inspire  his  prophets  and  apostles  in  writing 
the  Scriptures.  But  still,  he  is  the  Word,  as  well  as  the 
Wisdom  of  the  Father ;  and  I  ask,  where  do  the  Scrip- 
tures themselves  declare  any  other  ?" — P.  2,  3.  1679, 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES. 


275 


WILLIAM  CHANDLER,  ALEXANDER  PYOTT,  JOSEPH 
HODGES,  AND  OTHERS. 

In  the  year  1694,  these  Friends  wrote  and  published  "  A 
Brief  Apology  in  behalf  of  the  people,  in  derision  called 
Quakers,  for  the  information  of  our  sober  and  well  incHned 
neighbours,"  &c.  From  this  treatise  the  following  extracts 
on  the  subject  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  are  taken,  viz. — 

"  We  therefore  desire  our  well  disposed  neighbours,  can- 
didly to  weigh  what  we  have  to  allege  against  the  clamours 
of  those,  who,  to  be  sure,  will  not  set  us  out  to  our  best 
advantage  ;  and  to  receive  an  account  from  ourselves  what 
we  are,  and  what  we  believe  and  hold  for  Christian  truths  ; 
who  certainly  must  needs  know  better  our  own  belief,  than 
those  who  perhaps  never  examined  it  to  any  other  end 
than  to  find  fault,  if  ever  they  did  it ;  and  also  that  you 
will  not  think  it  strange,  that  we  express  not  our  belief  in 
some  particulars,  in  the  affected  terms  of  other  professors 
of  Christianity,  but  think  it  more  reasonable  and  safe  to 
content  ourselves  with  that  dress  of  language,  in  which  the 
Holy  Ghost  thought  fit  to  hand  them  to  us  in  the  Holy 
Scriptures  ;  those  most  excellent  and  divine  writings, 
Pr'hich,  above  all  others  in  the  world,  challenge  our  reve- 
rence and  most  diligent  reading;  those  oracles  of  God, 
and  rich  Christian  treasury  of  divine  saving  truths,  which 
were  written  for  our  learning,  that  we  through  patience 
and  comfort  of  them  may  have  hope;  and  are  profitable 
for  doctrine,  reproof,  correction,  and  instruction  in  righte- 
ousness, to  the  perfecting  and  thoroughly  furnishing  of  the 
man  of  God  to  every  good  work,  making  him  wise  unto 
salvation,  through  fnith  which  is  in  Jesus  Christ,  containing 
all  Christian  doctrines  necessary  to  be  believed  for  salva- 
tion, and  are  a  suflicient  external  standard  and  touchstone 
to  try  the  doctrines  of  men  ;  and  we  say  with  the  apostle, 
whosoever  shall  publish  and  propagate  any  other  gospel 
and' faith,  than  is  therein  testified  of  to  us  by  those  inspired 
penmen,  who  were  the  first  promulgators  thereof,  though 
he  were  an  angel,  let  him  be  accursed  :  all  which  ajid 
whatsoever  is  therein  contained,  we  as  firmly  believe  as 
any  of  you  do  ;  and  as  'tis  the  duty  of  every  sincere 
Christian,  we  are  heartily  thankful  to  God  for  them,  who, 
through  his  good  providence,  hath  preserved  them  to  our 
time,  to  our  great  benefit  and  comfort." — P.  6. 


276 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES. 


JOHN  TOMKINS,  . 

In  the  preface  to  bis  "  Harmony  of  the  Old  and  New 
Testament,"  speaks  thus  of  his  esteem  and  value  of  the 
sacred  writings,  viz. — 

"  Having  taken  great  delight  in  reading  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures, and  meditating  upon  those  divine  matters  contained 
therein,  and  thereby  reaped  great  benefit,  comfort  ajid 
hope,  as  my  mind  was  exercised  in  that  gift  of  grace,  and 
holy  Spirit  of  God,  a  manifestation  whereof  he  hath  given 
to  every  man  to  profit  withal ;  which  searcheth  all  things, 
and  is  the  key  that  unlocks  those  mysteries  which  the  Holy 
Ghost  hath  conveyed  down  to  us  for  our  edification.  My 
soul  many  times  hath  bowed  in  reverence  and  thankfulness 
unto  God,  for  that  He,  by  his  divine  providence,  hath  so 
signally  preserved  those  writings  through  the  many  revolu- 
tions that  have  happened  in  the  world,  as  so  many  testimo- 
nies of  his  great  power  and  noble  acts,  which  he  hath 
already  wrought,  and  which  he  will  further  bring  to  pass 
by  his  almighty  Arm  in  the  several  ages,  to  and  for  his 
church  and  people."^  1694. 


BENJAMIN  COOLE. 

From  a  work  written  by  this  Friei!d,  vindicating  the  So- 
ciety from  the  aspersions  of  an  opponent,  the  following 
extracts  on  the  subject  of  their  belief  in,  and  esteem  for, 
the  Holy  Scriptures,  are  selected,  viz.— 

*'  The  first  [calumny]  is,  our  not  only  despising,  but  for- 
mally rejecting  the  Scriptures.  In  answer  to  which  I  must 
tell  him,  'tis  like  the  rest,  absolutely  false,  for  we  neither 
now  think,  nor  ever  thought  them  other  than  admirable 
writings,  given  by  the  inspiration  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  jand 
look  upon  it  as  a  great  and  wonderful  providence  of  God, 
that  it  was  his  divine  pleasure  to  have  them  preserved  to 
this  day,  for  the  comfort  and  instruction  of  his  true  wor- 
shippers, and  to  bear  witness  to  the  truth  of  what  we  pro- 
fess, to  the  glory  and  honour  of  his  immortal  name." — P. 
44. 

"  Now,  although  we  do  not  commonly  call  the  Scriptures 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCBIPTURES. 


277 


the  Word  of  God,  because  we  distinguish  between  them 
and  Jesus  Christ,  who  is  called  in  Scripture  the  Word  of 
God,  yet  it  is  not  in  the  least  to  derogate  from  the  honour 
and  dignity  that  is  due  thereto,  but  because  it  is  an  attri- 
bute peculiar  to  Jesus  Christ,  the  Word :  although  as  they 
declare  the  mind  of  God  with  respect  to  us,  and  are  his 
commands  to  us,  they  may  in  that  respect  be  called  the 
word  or  command  of  God ;  and  so  the  Quakers  own  and 
esteem  them,  and  rejoice  in  them,  since  they  afford  such  a 
-comfortable  history  of  the  dealings  of  the  Lord  with  his 
people  through  many  generations,  and  of  the  coming  of 
his  Son,  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ;  his  birth,  works,  doctrine, 
miracles,  sufferings,  death,  resurrection,  ascension,  glorifi- 
cation, and  present  mediation,  and  of  his  coming  at  the 
end  of  the  world  to  judge  both  quick  and  dead ;  of  the 
resurrection  of  the  just  and  unjust,  with  many  more  pre- 
cious and  comfortable  doctrines,  all  which  are  contained 
in  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  written  for  our  learning,  that 
by  faith  in  Christ,  the  man  of  God,  through  them,  may  be 
thoroughly  furnished  to  every  good  word  and  work." — P. 
53.  169G. 


JOSEPH  WYETH. 

The  following  extracts  from  the  "  Switch  for  the  Snake," 
written  by  Joseph  Wyeth,  and  pubhshed  in  1699,  will  ex- 
hibit the  views  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  on  the  subject  of 
the  Scriptures,  viz. — 

"  We  have  always  testified  according  to  2  Tim.  iii.  ]  6. 
All  Scripture  is  given  by  inspiration  of  God,  and  is  profita- 
ble for  doctrine,  for  reproof,  for  correction,  for  instruction 
in  righteousness.  And  the  reason  of  this  is,  because,  ac- 
cording to  2  Pet.  i.  21.  the  prophecy  came  not  in  old  time 
by  the  will  of  man,  but  holy  men  of  God  spake  as  they 
were  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost;  and  therefore  it  is,  that 
we  have  constantly  directed  men  to  the  Holy  Spirit,  for 
the  true  understanding  of  them,  by  the  movings  whereof 
they  were  at  first  written.  For  as  they  do  contain  a  true 
declaration  of  the  things  of  God,  so  they  are  not  to  be  truly 
understood,  but  by  the  Spirit  of  God.  How  much  the 
24 


278 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES. 


contrary  of  this  can  be  proved  by  this  Snake,  I  shall  now 
examine. 

"  Snake,  page  85. — '  The  Quakers'  notion  of  the  Light 
within,  as  before  explained,  must  necessarily  cut  off  our 
dependence  upon  the  Holy  Scriptures,  as  a  rule  either  of 
faith  or  manners.' 

"  Answer.  The  Light  within,  Christ  in  us,  as  before  I 
have  explained,  as  it  is  not  contrary  to  the  Scriptures  ;  so 
it  does  not  cut  them  off  from  being  useful,  as  before  de- 
clared, viz.  for  doctrine,  reproof,  correction,  <Sz:c.  For 
though  the  Holy  Spirit  is  as  infallible  now  as  ever,  and  it 
is  the  same  Holy  Spirit,  manifested  in  the  hearts  of  men  at 
this  day,  by  which  the  holy  men  did  write  the  Scriptures, 
yet  the  manifestations  thereof  to  them,  being  in  greater  de- 
gree, we  justly  give  them  the  priority  ;  this,  with  respect  to 
the  writings  of  any  faithful  servant  of  Christ  at  this  day. 
But  with  respect  to  the  Holy  Spirit,  that  being,  as  I  have 
just  now  said,  as  infallible  now  as  ever  ;  it  must  of  necessity 
also"  follow,  that  whosoever,  through  obedience,  follows 
the  guidance  of  it,  must  have  as  sure,  because  the  same  rule 
as  the  prophets  and  apostles  had.  And  this  is  no  more 
contradictory,  than  the  parable  of  the  talents.  Matt.  xxv. 
in  which  our  Saviour  shows  the  different  proportions  of 
trust  of  the  same  treasure  ;  and  the  one  talent,  had  it  been 
employed  in  the  same  way  which  the  five  were,  it  would 
as  certainly  have  gained  profit.  Thus  they  who,  through 
obedience,  improve  their  talent,  and  are,  in  the  apostle's 
phrase,  2  Cor.  vi.  1.  workers  together  with  Christ,  they 
shall  witness  a  growth  in  his  grace ;  and  who  do  so  grow, 
have  the  same  rule  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  to  read  and  under- 
stand the  Scriptures  by,  even  the  same  sure  rule  which 
the  prophets  and  apostles  had,  when  they  writ  them.  Hence 
it  is,  that  he  that  hath,  and  obeys  the  least  measure  of  this 
sure  rule,  the  Holy  Spirit  in  himself,  will  easily  and  read- 
ily acknowledge  and  consent,  to  the  further  degrees  of  the 
revealed  will  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  recorded  in  the  Scrip- 
tures of  truth."— P.  150,  151. 

"  It  is  false  that  we  have  ever  pretended  that  the  par- 
ticular manifestation  of  the  Light  of  Christ  in  any  of  us 
did  overrule  the  Scriptures  or  ordinances.  There  can- 
not be  contradiction  in  the  Spirit  of  God  ;  by  the  movings 
whereof  it  was  that  the  Scriptures  were  given  forth,  2  Pet. 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES. 


279 


i.  21.  Nor  do  the  movings  of  the  same  Spirit,  privately 
working  in  particular  persons,  at  this  day,  overrule  or  con- 
tradict what  it  did  give  forth  as  above." — P.  161. 


ROGER  HAYDOCK, 

Replying  to  the  aspersions  of  John  Cheyney,  says — 
"  The  people  called  Quakers  do  prefer  and  esteem  the 
book  called  the  Bible,  or  Holy  Scriptures,  above  any  out- 
ward writing  or  book  extant  upon  the  earth,  because  of 
the  verity  and  plenty  of  deep  heavenly  sayings  uttered  by 
God  unto  Moses  and  the  prophets,  through  the  several 
ages  of  the  world,  and  particularly  and  eminently  through 
the  heavenly  man  Christ  Jesus,  who  was  anointed  with 
the  oil  of  gladness  above  his  fellows,  and  filled  with  the 
Spirit  without  measure.'" — Page  94.  1699. 


JOHN  FIELD. 

From  an  "  Apology  for  the  people  called  Quakers,  ^c.'' 
written  by  John  Field,  and  published  in  1699,  I  take  the 
following  extracts  : — 

"  And  although  in  some  things  they  [the  Quakers]  have 
seemed  to  differ  from  those  of  other  persuasions,  yet  who 
can  convict  them  of  error  in  any  fundamental  doctrine  of 
the  Christian  rehgion  ;  or  of  their  not  holding  that  which 
is  truly  essential  to  salvation,  and  agreeable  to  the  holy 
Scriptures  ?  Which  holy  records,  however  they  have 
been  misrepresented  or  falsely  accused,  as  slighters  or  con- 
temners of  them,  1  do  declare  on  their  behalf,  they  have 
always  had,  and  still  have,  a  high  esteem  of  and  true  value 
for  them,  above  all  other  writings  or  books  :  and  their  fre- 
quent use  of  them,  and  pressing  their  children  and  ser- 
vants to  the  reading  therein,  may  sufficiently  demonstrate 
to  those  that  know  them,  the  innocency  of  this  abused 
people." — Page  7. 


280 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES. 


RICHARD  ASHBY,  JOHN  FIDDEMAN,  JOHN  CADE. 

A  pamphlet,  published  by  these  Friends  in  the  year 
1699,  entitled  "The  True  Light  owned  and  vindicated," 
contains  the  following  observations  : — 

"  Blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord,  who  hath  preserved 
the  holy  Scriptures,  that  we  have  the  testimony  thereof, 
which  are  so  plain  concerning  these  divine  truths  :  happy 
are  they  that  know  the  light  of  God's  Holy  Spirit,  to  inspire 
and  enlighten  them  ;  they  can  say  that  which  was  written 
aforetime  was  written  for  our  learning,  that  we  through 
patience  and  the  comfort  of  the  Scriptures  might  have 
hope  ;  And  they  are  truly  profitable  for  doctrine,  reproof, 
correction,  instruction  in  righteousness,  that  the  man  of 
God  (which  none  can  truly  be,  but  as  they  are  led  by  the 
Spirit  of  God)  may  be  perfect,  thoroughly  furnished  unto 
every  good  work."" — Page  13.  1699. 


THOMAS  ELLWOOD. 

In  an  "  Answer  to  some  Objections  of  a  Moderate  En- 
quirer," T.  Ellwood  says — 

"  The  second  Objection  is.  You  deny  the  Scriptures  to 
be  any  rule  for  man  or  woman  to  walk  by,  so  as  to  direct 
them  to  the  saving  of  their  souls. 

"  Answer. — In  this  we  are  misrepresented.  We  sincerely 
own,  love,  and  regard  the  holy  Scriptures,  believing  with 
the  apostle  that  they  were  given  by  inspiration  of  God,  and 
are  profitable  for  doctrine,  for  reproof,  for  correction,  for 
instruction  in  righteousness,  that  the  man  of  God  may  be 
perfect,  thoroughly  furnished  unto  all  good  works,  2  Tim. 
iii.  16,  17.  and  that  they  are  able  to  make  wise  unto  sal- 
vation, through  faith  that  is  in  Christ  Jesus,  v.  15.  And. 
great  benefit  and  delight  we  find  in  them,  reading  them 
in  the  openings  of  that  Divine  Spirit  by  which  they  were 
given  forth.  We  are  so  far  from  denying  them  to  be  any 
rule,  &;c.  that  we  acknowledge  them  to  contain  many  ex- 
cellent rules,  precepts,  doctrines,  and  instruc1:ions,  direct- 
ing man  and  woman  how  to  walk  that  they  may  obtain 
the  salvation  of  their  souls.    Yet  we  do  not  say,  as  some 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCKIPTUEES. 


281 


have  done,  that  the  Scriptures  are  the  only  rule,  or  the 
chief  and  principal  rule ;  because  we  dare  not  give  the 
honour  and  office  of  the  Holy  Spirit  unto  the  Scriptures  ; 
for  the  Scriptures  themselves  declare,  that  it  is  the  office 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  guide  believers  into  all  truth,  John 
xvi.  13.  And  indeed  the  true  meaning  and  benefit  of  the 
Scriptures  themselves  is  not  attained  to,  in  the  reading  of 
them,  unless  the  Spirit  that  gave  them  forth,  do  open  them, 
and  unseal  the  mysteries  contained  in  them.  So  that  the 
Holy  Spirit  is  greater  than  the  Scriptures,  and  therefore 
we  cannot  but  give  the  chief  place  unto  Him.  For  he  is 
able  to  manifest  himself  unto  man,  and  to  lead  man  into 
the  way  of  salvation,  either  with  and  by  the  Scriptures,  or 
without  them,  as  he  pleases  :  but  the  Scriptures  cannot  do 
that,  without  the  operation  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  Justly, 
therefore,  do  we  affirm  the  Spirit  of  God  to  be  the  chief 
rule,  and  yet  acknowledge  the  Holy  Scriptures  to  be  a  true 
rule,  and  proper  instrument  in  the  hand  of  the  Spirit  to 
direct  men  and  women  how  they  ought  to  walk,  to  obtain 
salvation  to  their  souls,  as  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  makes 
use  of  the  Scriptures  to  that  end." — Pages  3,  4. 


RICHARD  CLARIDGE. 

In  his  "  Treatise  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,"  he  thus  states 
the  Faith  of  the  Society  of  Friends  respecting  them,  viz. — 

"  We  do  sincerely  and  unfeignedly  believe  the  following 
propositions : 

"  1.  That  the  holy  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Tes- 
tament, were  not  of  any  men's  private  setting  forth,  but 
were  given  by  inspiration  of  God. 

"  2.  That  they  do  contain  a  clear  and  sufficient  declara- 
tion of  all  doctrines,  in  common  to  be  believed,  in  order  to 
eternal  life  and  salvation. 

"  3.  That  the  holy  Scriptures  are  the  best  outward  rule 
and  standard  of  doctrine  and  practice. 

"  That  whatsoever,  either  doctrine  or  practice,  though 
under  pretensions  to  the  immediate  dictates  and  teachings 
of  the  Spirit,  is  contrary  to  the  holy  Scriptures,  ought  to  be 
rejected  and  disowned,  as  false  and  erroneous  :  For  'what- 
soever is  not  read  therein,  nor  may  be  proved  thereby,  is 


282 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES. 


not  to  be  required  of  any  man,  that  it  should  be  belheved 
as  an  article  of  faith.' 

"5.  That  the  holy  Scriptures  contain  the  sayings  or 
words  of  God,  are  divine  writings,  which  claim  the  prece- 
dency of  all  others ;  and  we  do  esteem  them  as  such 
ourselves,  and  under  this  character  recommend  them  to 
others. 

"  6.  That  there,  ever  was,  and  is,  a  most  sweet  concord 
and  harmony  between  the  teachings  of  the  Spirit  and  the 
testimony  of  the  holy  Scriptures ;  and  that  there  is  no 
inconsistency  or  contradiction  between  the  one  and  the 
other,  notvi^ithstanding  that  great  diversity  of  men's 
opinions  and  sentiments,  under  the  profession  of  Chris- 
tianity. For  we  do  believe,  that  if  pride,  prejudice,  and 
self-interest  were  laid  aside,  and  men  would,  in  humihty 
of  mind,  sincerity  of  heart,  and  abasement  of  self,  wait 
upon  the  Lord  for  the  teachings  of  his  Spirit,  they  would 
be  taught  by  him,  the  very  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  and  come 
to  know  that  blessed  and  heavenly  unity  in  the  things  of 
God,  from  which  they  are  now  so  divided  and  subdivided, 
both  among  themselves  and  in  opposition  to  one  another. 

"7.  That,  though  the  manifestation  of  the  Spirit  is  given 
to  every  man,  both  Jew  and  Gentile,  to  profit  withal,  and 
the  grace  of  God  which  bringeth  salvation  hath  appeared 
unto  all  men,  so  that  all  have  means  sufficient  afforded 
them  for  their  present  and  eternal  welfare,  if  they  neglect 
not  the  means,  nor  slight  the  day  of  God's  gracious  visita- 
tion ;  yet  it  is  a  great  mercy  to  us,  and  all  those  that  make 
a  right  use  of  it,  that  it  hath  pleased  God  to  afford  unto 
us  the  holy  Scriptures,  which  he  hath  withheld  from  many 
others.  And  we  do  believe,  that  having  the  advantage  of 
the  holy  Scriptures,  more  is  required  of  us  than  of  those 
to  whom  they  are  not  communicated ;  for,  to  whom  much 
is  given,  from  them  much  is  required. 

"  8.  That  as  the  holy  Scriptures  have  God  alone  for 
their  author,  so  the  Spirit  of  God  alone  is  their  certain 
and  infallible  interpreter.  For  except  the  Spirit  which  he 
hath  promised,  and  we  ought  to  wait  for,  expound  them  to 
us,  we  can  never  spiritually  or  savingly  understand  or 
apply  them.  The  certain  knowledge,  therefore,  and  un- 
derstanding of  them,  must  be  waited  for,  of  the  same 
Spirit  by  which  they  were  dictated  and  committed  to 
writing." 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCKIPTURES. 


283 


In  his  "  Lux  Evangelica  Attestata,''  he  speaks  very 
clearly  on  the  subject  of  divine  revelation,  viz. — 

"  It  is  no  consequence  of  our  principle  to  equalize,  much 
less  to  prefer,  our  words  or  writings,  to  the  holy  Scrip- 
tures. For  first,  we  distinguish  immediate  revelation,  and 
say  it  is  twofold,  either  in  kind  or  degree.  Now  though  we 
believe  the  immediate  revelation  which  we  have,  is  from 
the  same  holy  Spirit  that  opened  in  the  prophets  and  apos- 
tles, and  through  them  gave  forth  the  holy  Scriptures,  yet 
we  do  not  say  it  is  the  same  revelation  for  [in]  degree 
which  they  had,  but  that  it  is  the  same  for  [in]  kind. 

"  Second.  We  do  not  plead  for  any  new  gospel,  faith, 
or  doctrine,  different  from  that  which  Christ,  and  his  holy 
prophets  and  apostles  taught,  and  is  recorded  in  the 
Scriptures  of  truth,  but  for  the  revelation  of  that  which 
they  taught,  and  is  therein  recorded.  Wherefore,  as  the 
apostle  says,  there  are  diversities  of  gifts,  but  the  same 
Spirit,  and  there  are  differences  of  administrations,  but 
the  same  Lord :  And  there  are  diversities  of  operations, 
but  it  is  the  same  God  which  worketh  all  in  all.  But  the 
manifestation  of  the  Spirit  is  given  to  every  man  to  profit 
withal,  1  Cor.  xii.  3 — 7.  So  say  we,  viz.  that  there  is  a 
measure  of  the  same  Spirit  in  us,  which  was  in  the  holy 
prophets  and  apostles ;  so  that  'tis  not  an  equality  of  any 
writings  with  theirs,  but  a  measure  of  the  same  Spirit  of 
revelation,  which  they  had,  that  we  contend  for." — Defence 
of  the  people  called  Quakers,  &c.  p.  6.  Lux  Evangelica, 
p.  85.  1701. 


THOMAS  UPSHER. 

In  the  year  1701,  George  Keith  published  a  tract,  in 
which  he  professed  to  give  an  account  of  "  an  occasional 
conference"  between  himself  and  Thomas  Upsher,  but 
greatly  misrepresented  the  facts,  to  the  injury  of  his  op- 
ponent. Thomas  Upsher  replied  to  him  in  an  essay,  from 
which  1  extract  the  following ; — 

"  In  my  first,  I  said  it  was  not  needful  that  the  light 
within  should  reveal  the  incarnation,  sufferings,  and  death 
of  Christ,  &;c.  without  the  Scriptures,  seeing  it  had  pleased 
the  Lord  to  bless  us  with  the  benefit  of  them.    And  in  my 


284 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCRJPTURES. 


last,  1  said,  As  it  was  not  needful,  so  the  light  within  did 
not  do  it.  And  pray,  what  necessity  is  there  that  the  all- 
wise  God  should  reveal  or  declare  those  things  to  us  anew, 
without  the  Scriptures,  seeing  he  has  already  done  it  by 
them,  the  truth  of  which  is  opened  and  confirmed  to  us  by 
the  self-same  Spirit  which  gave  them  forth  ?  Or  does  G. 
K.  think  it  is  necessary  we  should  throw  away  the  holy 
Scriptures,  in  expectation  of  a  new  revelation  of  those 
things  to  us  again  by  his  holy  Spirit,  without  them 
Page  5. 


BENJAMIN  LINDL'EY. 

The  following  extracts  are  from  a  treatise,  entitled 
"  Some  Arguments  concerning  the  Rule  of  Faith,  the  Scrip- 
tures and  their  authority,  &;c."  viz. — 

"  1.  We  own  the  Scriptures  to  be  given  forth  by  inspira- 
tion of  the  Spirit.  Holy  men  wrote  as  they  were  moved 
by  the  Holy  Ghost.  2.  That  they  are  reverently  to  be  read 
and  believed  by  all  to  whom  they  come.  3.  That  they 
are  the  best  secondary  and  subordinate  rule  that  is  extant 
in  the  world.  4.  That  they  are  a  means  in  the  hand  of  the 
Spirit  for  the  conviction  and  conversion  of  sinners,  and  of 
the  edification  and  building  up  of  the  saints  in  the  most  holy 
faith.  5.  That  we  are  to  bless  God  for  them." — Page  3. 
 1702. 


DANIEL  PHILLIPS, 

In  the  year  1703,  published  a  work,  entitled  "  Aa 
Occasional  Defence  of  the  principles  and  practices  of  the 
people  called  Quakers,"  with  a  preface  by  William  Penn. 
From  the  section  appropriated  to  the  subject  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  I  make  the  following  extracts,  viz. — 

"Our  principle  of  the  Light  within,  duly  considered, 
will  never  lead  any  to  undervalue  the  Holy  Scriptures,  nor 
the  doctrines  therein  contained  ;  neither  hath  it  led  us, 
notwithstanding  our  enemies'  false  insinuations,  to  contemn 
them,  but  it  hath,  as  sincerely  followed,  inclined  us  to 
esteem  and  value  them  ;  to  bless  Providence  that  we  are 


ox  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES. 


285 


favoured  with  the  knowledge  of  them,  to  recommend  them 
to  all  to  be  read  in  their  families,  to  repeat  passages  out  of 
them  in  our  gospel  ministry  ;  to  desire  the  Lord  to  open 
them  to  us  by  his  holy  Spirit,  that  we  may  square  all  our 
actions  by  them,  and  to  prefer  them  before  all  books  what- 
soever/'—P.  174,  175. 

"  We  have  always  owned  the  Scriptures  to  be  a  rule, 
subordinate  to  the  Holy  Spirit,  both  of  our  faith  and  prac- 
tice, and  humbly  desire  that  all  our  actions  may*  be  squared 
accordingly  ;  and  we  do  believe  that  they  have  been  and 
are  a  means,  to  convey  to  us  the  history  and  doctrine  of 
Jesus  Christ ;  and  do  allow  them  to  be  an  outward  stand- 
ard or  measure,  by  which,  through  the  assistance  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  we  may  be  capacitated  to  know  what  to  be- 
lieve and  do  in  order  to  our  salvation." — P.  176,  177. 

"  We  are  verily  persuaded,  that  it  is  an  indispensable 
duty  for  us  Christians,  to  believe  all  things  recorded  in  the 
New  Testament,  concerning  our  Saviour,  &zc.  if  they  should 
never  be  revealed  to  us  in  the  same  loay^  or  after  the  same 
manner,  as  the  apostles  and  evangelists  had  them.  Neither 
have  we  at  any  time  said  that  we  will  not  receive  the 
Christian  religion,  unless  it  is  revealed  to  us  by  immediate 
inspiration.  We  bless  Divine  Providence  for  favouring 
us  with  the  knowledge  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  do 
believe  all  commands  of  an  universal  extent,  mentioned  in 
these  sacred  writings,  are  obligatory  on  us  and  all  others, 
who  have  had  an  opportunity  of  the  explicit  knowledge  of 
these  writings  afforded  them." — P.  183. 

His  opponent  admits  that  the  Quakers  of  his  day,  in 
their  late  writings,  gave  the  Scriptures  very  proper  epithets, 
and  pretended  to  believe  them  to  be  of  Divine  authority, 
and  given  by  inspiration,  but  unjustly  insinuates  that  the 
early  Friends  \\ere  of  very  different  sentiments.  To  this, 
D.  Phillips  rephes : — 

"  We  have,  not  only  in  our  late,  but  also  in  jOur  former 
writings  given  the  Scriptures  good  words,  and  made  them 
the  standard  of  our  doctrines.  If  any  person  will  read 
those  very  books  cited  by  my  opponent  to  prove  us  con- 
temners of  them,  he  will  find  no  writings  fuller  of  quota- 
tions out  of  them,  than  those  are.  Is  it  then  probable  that 
what  we  have  admitted  to  be  the  test  of  our  principles, 
and  hourly  cite  to  prove  our  tenets,  should  be  despised 
by  us        P.  200.  1 703. 


286 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES. 


SAMUEL  CRISP. 

From  a  work,  entitled  "  A  Libeller  Exposed,"  &:c.  1  make 
the  following  extract,  viz.— 

"  It  is  very  unjust  in  this  author,  from  hence  to  insinuate 
as  if  we  looked  upon  the  Scriptures  as  a  useless  book. 
God  forbid  we  should  ever  entertain  such  vile  and  con- 
temptible thoughts  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  as  to  say  they 
are  a  useless  book  ;  since  it  has  always  been  our  declared 
sense,  that  they  are  given  by  inspiration  of  God,  and  are 
profitable  for  doctrine,  for  reproof,  for  correction,  for  in- 
struction in  righteousness  ;  and  are  able  to  make  wise  unto 
salvation,  through  faith  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus."" — P.  52. 
 '1704. 


THOMAS  BEAVEN. 

The  following  article  is  from  a  declaration  of  faith  by 
this  Friend,  viz. — 

"  That  the  Holy  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testa- 
ments are  of  Divine  authority,  because  Holy  men  of  God 
wrote  them  as  they  were  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost, 
wherefore  they  are  profitable  for  doctrine,  for  reproof,  and 
instruction  in  righteousness,  to  the  end  [that]  the  man  of 
God  may  be  thoroughly  furnished  unto  all  good  works  ; 
able  to  make  wise  unto  salvation,  through  faith  in  Jesus 
Christ,  and  that  they  are  therefore  the  only  external  rule 
of  faith  and  manners." — P.  146. 


BENJAMIN  HOLME. 

From  a  treatise,  entitled  "  A  Serious  Call,"  &;c.  I  take 
the  following  extract  on  the  subject  of  the  Holy  Scriptures;, 
viz. — 

"  Although  some  have  misrepresented  us  as  though  we 
undervalued  or  disesteemed  the  Holy  Scriptures  of  the 
Old  and  New  Testament,  yet  we  do  bless  the  Lord,  and 
have  great  cause  so  to  do,  that  the  excellent  counsel 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES. 


287 


therein  contained,  which  proceeded  from  the  Spirit .  of 
God,  is  preserved  upon  record  to  this  day  ;  and  it  is  a 
great  favour  that  we  Hve  under  a  government,  where  we 
have  the  hberty  to  read- them,  this  being  a  privilege  that 
many  called  Christians  are  deprived  of,  in  some  other 
countries  ;  and  I  wish  that  all  would  be  frequent  in  reading 
them.  The  apostle  Paul  commended  Timothy,  in  that 
from  a  child  he  had  known  the  Holy  Scriptures,  which, 
saith  he,  are  able  to  make  thee  wise  unto  salvation, 
through  faith,  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus.  All  Scripture 
given  by  inspiration  of  God,  is  profitable  for  doctrine,  for 
reproof,  for  correction,  for  instruction  in  righteousness, 
that  the  man  of  God  may  be  perfect,  thoroughly  furnished 
unto  all  good  works. 

"  Search  the  Scriptures,  saith  Christ,  for  in  them  ye 
think  ye  have  eternal  life,  and  they  are  they  which  testify 
of  me,  and  ye  will  not  come  to  me  that  ye  might  have 
life.  They  are  greatly  to  be  valued,  in  that  they  testify  of 
Christ,  in  whom  there  is  power  to  give  men  victory  over 
their  corruptions  and  passions,  and  enable  them  to  do  the 
will  of  God.  We  read  that  Christ  came  unto  his  own, 
and  his  own  received  him  not ;  but  as  many  as  received 
him,  to  them  gave  he  power  to  become  the  sons  of  God. 
They  that  receive  Christ  by  his  Spirit  into  their  hearts, 
they  receive  power  ;  for  Christ's  Spirit  is  a  Christian's 
strength.  1  can  do  all  things,  saith  the  apostle,  through 
Christ,  which  strengthens  me.  We  read,  that  no  prophecy 
of  the  Scriptures  is  of  any  private  interpretation ;  for  the 
prophecy  came  not  in  old  time  by  the  will  of  man,  but 
holy  men  of  God  spake  as  they  were  moved  by  the  Holy 
Ghost. 

"  Now  we  say,  the  most  true  interpreter  of  the  Holy 
Scripture  is  the  Holy  Ghost,  or  Spirit,  from  which  they 
did  proceed.  We  read,  that  the  natural  man  receives  not 
the  things  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  neither  can  he  know  them, 
saith  the  text ;  and  there  is  a  strong  reason  laid  down  for 
it,  because  they  are  spiritually  discerned  ;  they  are  beyond 
his  reach  and  comprehension  ;  for  what  man  knoweth  the 
things  of  a  man,  save  the  spirit  of  a  man  which  is  in  him  ? 
even  so  the  things  of  God  knoweth  no  man,  but  the  Spirit 
of  God.  This  is  ihe  key  which  opens  the  mysteries  of  the 
kingdom  of  God  to  men.  I  take  this  to  be  the  great 
reason  why  there  are  such  great  mistakes  about  religion, 


288 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES. 


and  why  many  put  such  gross  constructions  upon  many 
parts  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  as  they  do  ;  because  they  do 
not  come  to  that  divine  Spirit  which  gives  a  right  and 
true  understanding  ;  as  Ehhu  said,  there  is  a  spirit  in 
man,  and  the  inspiration  of  the  Almighty  giveth  them 
understanding*  Till  men  come  to  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God 
in  themselves,  they  can  neither  know  God,  nor  the  things 
of  God  ;  for  we  read,  that  no  man  knoweth  the  Father, 
save  the  Son,  and  he  to  whomsoever  the  Son  will  reveal 
him. 

"  Now,  if  revelation  was  ceased,  as  some  do  imagine 
it  is,  what  a  sad  condition  would  mankind  be  in.  For 
we  read,  the  world  by  wisdom  knows  not  God  ;  there  is 
no  knowledge  of  God,  but  by  the  revelation  of  his  Son ; 
and  it  is  as  men  come  to  have  an  inward  knowledge  of 
God,  that  they  come  to  have  a  right  understanding  of  the 
Holy  Scriptures,  which  proceeded  from  the  good  Spirit  of 
God  ;  wherefore  we  highly  value  them,  though  it  is  to  be 
feared,  some  called  Christians  do  disbeheve  many  of  the 
great  truths  therein  contained  ;  for  I  believe  that  a  man, 
through  often  rebelling  against  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God  in 
himself,  may  arrive  at  such  a  degree  of  wickedness,  that 
he  may  reject  the  Scriptures,  and  count  them  but  fables  ; 
and  may  be  so  far  from  owning  of  any  thing  of  God  in 
man,  as  to  deny  the  Lord  that  bought  him,  and  according 
to  Psalm  xiv.  1.  he  may  say  in  his  heart,  there  is  no  God. 
It  is  the  work  of  the  enemy  of  all  righteousness,  to  per- 
suade men  that  there  is  no  God,  and  that  the  Scriptures 
are  but  a  fiction,  and  that  men  are  not  accountable  for 
their  words  or  actions,  and  that  there  are  no  future  rewards 
and  punishments ;  that  they  might  walk  at  large,  and  take 
their  full  swing  in  wickedness.  It  is  greatly  to  be  desired, 
if  there  be  any  such  now  living,  whose  day  of  mercy  is  not 
wholly  over,  that  have  arrived  to  such  a  degree  of  hard- 
ness and  wickedness  as  this  is,  that  they  may  be  brought 
to  a  sense  of  their  iniquity  and  error,  and  be  so  truly  hum- 
bled in  soul  because  thereof,  that  if  possible  they  might 
find  mercy  at  the  Lord's  hand.  The  better  Christian  that 
any  man  is,  the  more  true  and  real  value  he  has  for  the 
Holy  Scriptures."— Works,  p.  106,  107. 


ON  THE  HOLT  SCRirTURES. 


2€9 


SAMUEL  FULLER, 

In  his  "  Serious  Reply"  to  some  abusive  queries  pro- 
posed to  the  Society  of  Friends,  written  in  1728,  says  : — 

"  We  believe  the  holy  doctrines  of  the  Old  and  New 
Testament  to  he  given  by  Divine  inspiration,  and  there- 
fore of  Divine  authority,  and  preferable  to  all  other  writings 
extant ;  though  we  cannot  think  it  any  affront  or  under- 
valuing of  those  heavenly  records,  that  rare  gift,  to  prefer 
the  mouth  and  giver  whence  they  came,  and  which  alone 
can  certainly  expound,  bless,  and  make  them  profitable  to 
those  great  and  good  ends,  which  the  Almight}^  in  his 
mercy  and  favour  to  the  Christian  church,  above  others, 
has  been  graciously  pleased  to  vouchsafe  and  appoint  these 
sacred  oracles. 

"  Forasmuch  as  the  penmen  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  par- 
ticularly of  the  New  Testament,  were  entrusted  to  transmit 
to  posterity  the  transactions,  with  relation  to  the  birth,  mira- 
cles, sufferings,  resurrection  and  ascension  of  our  blessed 
Lord,  with  the  precepts,  exhortations,  and  gracious  say- 
ings, that  proceeded  from  his  mouth  whilst  here  on  earth  ; 
as  also  those  excellent  and  evangelical  truths,  revealed  to 
them  by  the  light  of  the  glorious  gospel,  which  they  were 
commissioned  to  preach  to  the  nations ;  in  these  respects, 
and  as  being  prime  ministers  in  God's  house,  and  persons 
qualified  by  a  much  greater  measure  of  the  same  divine 
spirit,  to  be  the  first  witnesses  and  dispensers  of  that  glori- 
ous dispensation  ;  their  writings  challenge,  and  justly  ought 
to  have  the  first  and  chief  place,  as  a  rule  of  faith  and 
practice,  next  [to]  the  Holy  Spirit  by  which  they  were 
inspired ;  and  which  leads  us  into  a  high  esteem  of  those 
excellent  writings,  as  being  so  valuable  an  effect  of  so  great 
a  cause. 

"We  also  believe  the  Holy  Scriptures  contain  a  clear 
testimony  to  all  the  essentials  of  the  Christian  faith  ;  that 
they  are  the  only  fit  outward  judge  of  controversy  among 
Christians;  that  whatever  doctrine  is  contrary  unto  their 
testimony,  may  therefore  be  justly  rejected  as  false ;  and 
that  whatsover  any  do,  pretending  to  the  Spirit,  which  is 
contrary  to  the  Scriptures,  ought  to  be  accounted  a  delu- 
sion of  the  devil;  for  'tis  impossible  that  the  Spirit  of  God, 
which  we  believe  all  Christians  should  be  led  by,  should 


290 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES. 


contradict  itself  or  any  of  its  former  revelations  in  the 
Holy  Scriptures  ;  hence  we  are  so  far  from  equalling,  much 
less  preferring  our  suppositions,  speeches,  pretences,  wri- 
tings, acts  or  facts,  to  the  sacred  writings,  that  we  submit 
all  to  them,  as  the  only  fit  outward  judge  of  controversy." — 
P.  27. 


DECLARATIONS  OF  FAITH. 

In  a  declaration  of  the  faith  of  the  Society  of  Friends, 
noticed  in  a  former  section,  issued  in  1689,  and  presented 
to  the  committee  of  parliament,  I  find  the  following  query 
and  reply,  viz. 

"  Do  you'believeand  own  the  Holy  Scriptures  contained 
in  the  books  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament,  to  be  given 
by  divine  inspiration,  and  to  contain  all  matters  of  doctrine 
and  testimony,  necessary  to  be  believed  and  practised,  in 
order  to  salvation  and  peace  with  God  ? 

"  Ans.  Yes,  we  do  ;  and  by  the  assistance  of  the  grace 
and  good  Spirit  of  God,  which  gives  the" true  understand- 
ing of  the  mind  of  God,  and  meaning  of  Holy  Scripture, 
we  always  desire  to  live  in  the  faith,  knowledge,  and  prac- 
tice of  them,  in  all  things  appertaining  to  life  and  godliness  : 
Holy  Scripture  being  given  by  divine  inspiration,  is  profita- 
ble for  doctrine,  correction  and  instruction,  that  the  man 
of  God  may  be  perfect,  thoroughly  furnished  unto  every 
good  work  ;  able  to  make  the  man  of  God  wise  unto  sal- 
vation, through  faith  in  Christ  Jesus.*' 

The  confession  drawn  up  by  George  Whitehead,  and 
presented  by  him  and  John  Vaughton  to  one  of  the  mem- 
bers of  parliament,  and  brought  before  the  committee  of 
the  bouse,  contains  these  words : — 

"  And  I  do  acknowledge  the  holy  Scriptures  of  the  Old 
and  New  Testament  to  be  given  by  divine  inspiration." 

The  declaration  being  under  consideration  in  the  house, 
George  Whitehead,  John  Vaughton,  William  Mead,  and 
John  Osgood,  with  others,  were  called  in,  that  they  might 
have  the  confession  from  themselves.  Of  this  opportunity, 
G.  W.  says,  "  So  that  I  had  then  occasion  to  answer  the 
committee  very  clearly  and  to  their  satisfaction,  both  as  to 
our  really  owning  the  Deity,  and  the  holy  Scriptures  of  the 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCBIPTURES. 


291 


Old  and  New  Testament,  as  given  forth  by  divine  inspira- 
tion. The  last  being  most  in  question,  we  gave  them  such 
plain  and  clear  satisfaction,  both  as  to  the  holj  doctrine 
contained  in  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament, 
and  to  the  historical  parts  thereof,  as  being  preserved  by 
Divine  Providence  to  us,  that  1  clearly  perceived  our  con- 
fession and  testimony  had  such  influence  and  effect  upon 
the  spirit  of  the  parliament,  that  it  made  for  the  furtherance 
of  the  said  bill,  in  order  to  bring  it  into  an  act." — Works, 

p.  G3o,  636.  1689. 

The  confession  of  faith  signed  by.  thirty-two  Friends, 
and  laid  before  parliament  in  1693,  contains  the  following, 
viz. — 

"  3.  That  the  holy  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Tes- 
tament are  of  divine  authority,  as  being  given  by  inspira- 
tion of  God. 

"  And  we  know  of  no  other  doctrine  or  principles 
preached,  maintained,  or  ever  received  among  or  by  us, 
since  we  were  a  people,  contrary  to  these  aforesaid." 

See  also  the  declaration  of  faith  issued  in  1693,  and 
signed  by  G.  Whitehead  and  others,  p.  209  of  this  work. 

From  these  testimonies,  it  is  obvious  that  the  Society  of 
Friends  has  always  believed  and  confessed  the  inspira- 
tion and  divine  authority  of  the  holy  Scriptures  of  the 
Old  and  New  Testament ;  and  the  following  extracts  from 
the  epistles  issued  by  the  yearly  meeting,  will  show  its 
earnest  concern  that  all  its  members  should  be  diligent  in 
the  perusal  of  them,  and  more  particularly  that  the  youth 
should  be  carefully  instructed  in  the  knowledge  and  sin- 
cere belief  of  those  precious  and  saving  truths  which  they 
contain. 


YEARLY  MEETING. 

1706. — "And  forasmuch  as,  next  to  our  own  souls,  our 
children  and  offspring  are  the  most  immediate  objects  of 
our  care  and  concern,  it  is  tenderly  recommended  to  all 
that  are  or  may  be  parents  or  guardians  of  children,  that 
they  be  diligently  exercised  in  this  care  and  concern  for 
the  education  of  those  committed  to  their  charoje ;  that  in 
their  tender  years  they  may  be  brought  to  a  senle  of  God, 


292 


ON  TUB  HOLY  SCRIPTrRES. 


his  wisdom,  power,  and  omnipresence,  so  as  to  beget  an 
awe  and  fear  of  Him  in  their  hearts,  which  is  the  begin- 
ning of  wisdom  :  and  as  they  grow  up  in  capacity,  to  ac- 
quaint them  with,  arid  bring  them  up  in  the  frequent  read- 
ing of  the  Scriptures  of  truth ;  and  also  to  instruct  them  in 
the  great  love  of  God,  through  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  work 
of  salvation  by  Him,  and  of  sanctification  through  his 
blessed  Spirit :  and  also  to  keep  them  out  of  the  vain  and 
foolish  fashions  and  ways  of  the  world,  and  in  plainness  of 
language,  habit  and  behaviour ;  that  being  thus  instructed 
in  the  way  of  the  Lord  when  they  are  young,  they  may  not 
forget  it  when  old  ;  or,  however,  that  all  concerned  may 
be  clear  in  the  sight  of  God,  that  they  have  not  been  want- 
ing in  their  duties  to  them." 

1709. — We  recommend  it  as  an  incumbent  duty  on 
Friends,  to  cause  them  [their  children]  to  be  frequent  in 
reading  the  holy  Scriptures,  and  in  observing  to  them  the 
examples  of  such  children  as  in  Scripture  are  recorded  to 
have  early  learned  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  and  hearkened  to 
his  counsel,  instructing  them  in  the  fear  and  dread  of  the 
Lord  ;  planting  impressions  upon  their  spirits,  of  reverence 
towards  God,  from  whom  they  have  their  daily  support, 
showing  them  they  ought  not  to  offend  him,  but  love, 
serve  and  know  him  in  whose  hands  all  blessings  are." 

1720. — "  It  is  also  seriously  advised,  that  no  Friends 
suffer  romances,  play  books,  or  other  vain  and  idle  pam- 
phlets in  their  houses  or  families,  which  tend  to  corrupt 
the  minds  of  youth;  but  instead  thereof,  that  they  excite 
them  to  the  reading  of  the  holy  Scriptures  and  religious 
books. 

"  Let  the  holy  Scriptures  be  early  taught  our  youth,  and 
diligently  searched,  and  seriously  read  by  Friends,  with 
due  regard  to  the  Holy  Spirit  from  whence  they  came, 
and  by  which  they  are  truly  opened  ;  for  they  contain  ex- 
cellent doctrine,  rules  and  precepts  divine  and  moral." 

1728. — "  And,  dear  friends,  inasmuch  as  the  holy  Scrip- 
tures are  the  external  means  of  conveying  and  preserving 
to  us,  an  account  of  the  things  most  surely  to  be  believed 
concerning  the  coming  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  the 
flesh,  and  the  fulfilling  of  the  prophecies  relating  thereto. 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES. 


293 


we  therefore  recommend  to  all  Friends,  especially  elders 
in  the  church,  and  masters  of  families,  that  they  would, 
both  by  example  and  advice,  impress  on  the  minds  of  the 
younger,  a  reverent  esteem  of  those  sacred  writings,  and 
advise  them  to  a  frequent  reading  and  meditating  therein. 
And  that  ministers,  as  well  as  elders  and  others,  in  all 
their  preaching,  writing,  and  conversing  about  the  things 
of  God,  do  keep  to  the  form  of  sound  words,  or  Scripture 
terms ;  and  that  none  pretend  to  be  wise  above  what  is 
there  written,  and  in  such  pretended  wisdom,  go  about  to 
explain  the  things  of  God  in  the  words  which  man's  wis- 
dom teaches  ;  but  on  the  contrary,  that  you  would  at  pro- 
per times  and  seasons,  when  you  find  your  minds  rightly 
disposed  thereunto,  give  the  youth  to  understand  that  the 
same  good  experience  of  the  work  of  sanctification,  through 
the  operations  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  which  the  holy  Scrip- 
tures plentifully  bear  testimony  unto,  is  to  be  witnessed  by 
believers  in  all  generations,  as  well  as  by  those  in  the  first 
ages  of  Christianity,  in  which  case  some  account  of  your 
own  experience  will  be  helpful  to  them.  And  this  we  re- 
commend as  the  most  effectual  means  for  begetting  and 
establishing  in  their  minds,  a  firm  belief  of  the  Christian 
doctrine  in  general,  as  well  as  the  necessity  of  the  aid  and 
help  of  the  operations  of  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God  in  the 
hearts  of  men  in  particular,  contained  in  that  most  excel- 
lent book,  the  Bible,  and  for  preserving  them  from  being 
defiled  with  the  many  pernicious  notions  and  principles 
contrary  to  such  sound  doctrine,  which  are  at  this  time  in- 
dustriously dispersed  in  the  nation,  to  the  reproach  of  the 
Christian  profession  in  general.'' 

1729. — -After  exhorting  Friends  to  prevent  their  children 
from  reading  plays  and  romances,  they  add — 

"  And  also  to  be  very  careful  to  prevent  their  children 
and  servants  from  reading  such  vile  and  corrupt  books, 
(some  of  which  have  been  published  of  late,)  as  manifestly 
tend  to  oppose  and  reject  the  divine  authority  of  the  holy 
Scriptures,  and  to  introduce  deism,  atheism,  and  all  man- 
ner of  infidelity  and  corruption,  both  in  principle  and 
practice." 

1730 — "  We  likewise  are  engaged  to  refer  to  former 
advice  from  this  meeting,  relating  to  a  godly  care  and  con- 

25* 


294 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES. 


cern  for  the  good  education  of  our  youth,  in  order  to  their 
preservation  from  evil  conversation,  and  the  corruptions 
which  do  too  much  abound,  agreeable  to  that  ancient  and 
apostolic  doctrine,  that  evil  communications  corrupt  good 
manners :  With  this  view  we  did  last  year,  and  do  now 
again  earnestly  recommend  and  beseech  all  Friends,  to  ad- 
monish and  exhort  the  youth  under  their  care  not  to  read, 
but  refrain  [from]  all  such  books  as  tend  to  make  void  the 
divine  authority  of  the  holy  Scriptures,  and  to  promote 
profaneness  and  infidelity  in  the  earth.  This  if  pressed 
earnestly  in  the  love  of  truth,  and  in  the  meekness  of  wis- 
dom, wc  would  hope  may  often  prove  effectual.  But  if 
after  all  these  endeavours  they  shall  not  be  reclaimed,  then 
will  a  close  reprehension  and  rebuke  be  necessary,  that 
our  Society  may  be  acquitted  from  the  imputation  of 
blame,  which  otherwise  may  be  laid  upon  it." 

1731, — "  And  in  order  to  render  these  advices  more 
effectual,  we  farther  tenderly  recommend  to  all  heads  of 
families,  that  they  do  frequently  call  their  children  and 
servants  together,  and,  in  a  solemn  religious  way,  cause 
them  to  read  the  holy  Scriptures;  and  in  so  doing,,  that 
they  humbly  wait  upon  God  with  their  families,,  for  instruc- 
tion and  counsel  to  them  respecting  Christian  faith  and 
practice,  according  to  the  former  advices  of  this  meeting,, 
particularly  that  in  the  year  1706,  to  which  ia  an  especial 
manner  we  refer  on  this  occasion." 

1 733.  — "  And,  dear  friends,  we  must  remind  you  to  take 
all  convenient  opportunities  to  put  your  children  upon 
reading  and  meditating  in  the  holy  Scriptures,  which  having 
proceeded  from  the  dictates  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  do  afford 
the  most  comfortable  and  salutary  instructions  of  all  wri- 
tings whatever,  as  we  have  heretofore  often  advised,  and 
particularly  in  our  epistles  of  the  two  last  years,  in  which 
the  advices  on  this  head  being  large  and  comprehensive, 
we  refer  thereto." 

1 734.  — "  As  there  has  been  heretofore,  so  there  yet 
remains  upon  this  meeting,  a  peculiar  regard  to,  and 
weighty  concern  for  the  offspring  of  Friends,  that  the 
rising  generation  might  be  trained  up  in  the  principles  and 
practices  of  the  Christian  religion.    In  order  whereunto. 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTITKES. 


295 


as  formerly,  so  now  again,  we  recommend  an  humble 
waiting  upon  the  Lord  for  the  manifestation  of  his  power 
and  Spirit,  and  a  diligent  reading  of  the  holy  Scriptures  in 
your  families,  and  that  masters  of  families,  parents  and 
guardians  of  children,  at  proper  and  convenient  opportu- 
nities, would  stir  up  those  under  their  care  to  diligence 
herein ;  showing  them  that  those  sacred  writings  do  con- 
tain the  doctrines  and  principles  of  our  profession,  and 
explaining  to  them,  as  the  Lord  by  his  Spirit  shall  enable, 
the  grounds  and  causes  inducing  Friends  to  distinguish 
themselves,  by  not  conforming  to  the  vain  fashions  and 
corrupt  customs  of  the  world,  and  that  one  great  end  of 
Christ's  coming  was  to  form  to  himself  a  people,  who,  by 
their  lives  and  conversations,  should  be  patterns  of  that 
simplicity,  holiness  and  charity,  which  our  great  Lord 
himself,  in  the  most  perfect  manner,  exhibited,  leaving  us 
an  example  that  we  should  follow  his  steps." 

1735. — "And  we  think  it  will  contribute  very  much  to 
your  success  in  these  endeavours,  if  you  put  them  fre- 
quently, in  a  solemn  manner,  upon  reading  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures ;  especially  such  parts  of  them  as  relate  to  the  great 
doctrines  and  precepts  of  the  Christian  religion,  and  then 
wait  upon  God  with  them,  that  you  may  become  instru- 
ments to  open  their  understandings  ;  and  in  the  sense  of 
his  power  and  wisdom  press  them  closely  to  the  practice 
of  what  they  read." 

1737. — "  Finally,  brethren,  we  recommend  you  to  the 
direction  and  guidance  of  the  unerring  Spirit  of  truth 
within,  and  the  excellent  precepts  and  instructions  of  the 
holy  Scriptures  without ;  which  if  you  shall  diligently  take 
heed  unto,  you  will  not  fail  of  being  perfectly  instructed 
in  the  great  duties  of  worship  towards  God,  the  Father  and 
Author  of  all  our  mercies ;  of  fidelity  and  gratitude  to  the 
government  which  his  merciful  Providence  has  set  over 
us  ;  of  love  and  peace  among  yourselves,  and  of  justice 
and  benevolence  towards  all  men.*' 

1740. — "And,  dear  friends,  as  much  as  in  you  lies, 
encourage  a  frequent  and  diligent  reading  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures  in  your  families.  In  them  are  contained  the 
promises  of  eternal  life  and  salvation.    For  as  a  steady 


296 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES. 


trust  and  belief  in  the  promises  of  God,  and  a  frequent 
meditation  in  the  law  of  the  Lord,  was  the  preservation  of 
a  remnant  in  old  time,  so  it  is  even  to  this  day.  And  as  a 
distrust  and  disbelief  of  the  promises  of  God,  and  a  neglect 
of  his  holy  law,  was  the  occasion  of  the  complaints  made 
against  the  Jews,  the  posterity  of  Abraham  ;  even  so  we 
have  reason  to  fear  that  the  apparent  declension,  in  our 
time,  of  true  piety  and  godly  zeal,  in  many  places,  is  too 
much  owing  to  a  disregard  of  the  doctrines  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  and  the  promises  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  them 
recorded." 

1743. — "  We  think  it  especially  necessary  at  this  time, 
to  remind  you  of  the  former  advices  of  this  meeting,  re- 
specting a  frequent  and  diligent  reading  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures :  the  doctrines  contained  in  these  inspired 
writings,  duly  attended  to,  and  firmly  impressed  upon  the 
minds  of  our  young  people,  may  be  a  means  of  preserving 
them  from  the  danger  and  infection  of  such  corrupt  and 
irreligious  principles,  as,  having  a  tendency  to  the  exalta- 
tion of  self  and  human  abilities,  would  lessen  their  depen- 
dence on  the  power  and  Spirit  of  God,  their  only  security 
and  preservation." 

1748. — "  And,  dear  friends,  our  advice  and  exhortation 
is,  that  all  masters  of  families,  parents,  guardians,  and 
tutors  of  children,  would  frequently  put  in  practice  the 
calling  together  of  their  children  and  household,  to  wait 
upon  the  Lord  in  'their  families,  that,  receiving  wisdom 
and  counsel  from  Him,  they  may  be  enabled  seasonably 
to  exhort  and  encourage  them  to  walk  in  the  way  of  the 
Lord ;  to  exercise  themselves  in  reading  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures, and  in  observing  the  duties  and  precepts  of  holy 
living,  therein  recommended  ;  admonishing  them  to  keep 
to  that  plainness  and  simplicity  in  apparel,  speech  and 
behaviour,  which  the  Spirit  of  truth  led  our  forefathers 
into,  and  which  becomes  the  humble,  self-denying  (oU 
lowers  of  the  holy  Jesus." 

1751. — "  Oh  that  our  youth  might  be  prevailed  upon  to 
humble  themselves ;  endeavouring,  through  Divine  assist- 
ance, to  form  their  minds  according  to  the  plain  and 
simple  truths  of  the  gospel,  contained  in  the  Holy  Scrips 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCBIPTURES. 


297 


tures,  which  we  recommend  as  a  proper  mean  of  preserving 
them  from  the  contagion  of  profane  and  irreligious  books 
and  writings,  tending  to  alienate  and  divert  men  from  the 
love  of  virtue,  and  the  practice  of  true  Christian  morality." 

1752. — "And,  dear  friends,  as  to  your  conversation 
among  men,  that  ye  may  be  blameless  and  harmless,  the 
sons  of  God  without  rebuke,  we  recommend  you  to  the 
light  of  Christ  in  your  own  hearts,  and  to  the  precepts  of 
his  Holy  Spirit,  delivered  through  the  inspired  penmen  of 
the  holy  Scriptures.  As  you  shall  yield  obedience  to  those 
divine  and  heavenly  dictates,  you  will  be  made  wise  unto 
salvation,  and  perfectly  instructed  to  discharge- the  duties 
of  your  several  stations." 

1762. — "And  ye  parents,- guardiaiis,  and  heads  of  fami- 
lies, consider,  we  beseech  you,  how  much  depends  upon 
your  promoting  this  holy  engagement  among  the  youth, 
and  labour  to  discharge  your  duty  as  in  the  sight  of  God  : 
watch  over  them  in  love,  and  train  them  up  early  in  the 
w  ay  wherein  they  should  go,  by  information  and  example ; 
seeking  daily  for  a  renewal  of  wisdom  and  strength,  to 
walk  before  them  in  holiness  and  godly  fear.  Let  it  be 
your  care  to  instruct  them  early  in  the  holy  Scriptures, 
and  teach  them  to  delight  therein,  that  being  seasoned 
with  the  sacred  truths  in  them  recorded,  they  may  be 
preserved  from  the  corrupting  influence  of  such  books  as 
tend  to  leaven  the  mind  into  vanity,  profaneness  and  infi- 
delity ;  and  also  kept  in  innocency  of  life,  sobriety  of  man- 
ners, plainness  of  habit,  and  soundness  of  speech,  that 
cannot  be  condemned." 

1765. — "Another  point  of  duty,  we  find  in  our  minds 
to  press  upon  all  at  this  time  is,  that  you  be  frequently  con- 
versant with  the  holy  Scriptures,  by  the  good  providence 
of  God  preserved  down  to  our  time,  which  contain  the 
T^st  excellent  declarations  of  his  love  to  men  ;  our  duty 
to  him  and  to  one  another,  and  most  certainly,  through 
faith  in  Christ  Jesus,  tend  to  our  instruction  in  righteous- 
ness. As  your  minds  come  into  an  humble  and  teachable 
frame,  secretly  breathing  after  divine  information  and 
guidance,  you  will  often  experience  the  Comforter,  the 


298 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES. 


Spirit  of  truth,  to  open  the  doctrines  of  Christ,  and  of  his 
primitive  servants  unto  you." 

17G7. — "As  next  to  our  own  souls,  our  offspring  are 
the  most  immediate  objects  of  our  care  and  concern,  it  is 
earnestly  recommended  to  all  parents  and  guardians  of 
children,  that  the  most  early  opportunities  may  be  taken, 
in  their  tender  years,  to  impress  upon  them  a  sense  of  the 
Divine  Being;  his  wisdom,  power,  and  omnipresence,  so 
as  to  beget  a  reverent  awe  and  fear  of  him  in  their  hearts. 
And  as  their  capacities  enlarge,  to  acquaint  them  with  the 
holy  Scriptures,  by  frequent  and  diligent  reading  therein ; 
instructing  them  in  the  great  love  of  God  to  mankind 
through  Jesus  Christ ;  the  work  of  salvation  by  Him,  and 
sanctification  through  his  blessed  Spirit." 

1769. — "  There  having  been  for  many  years  past  a  great 
circulation  of  vain,  idle,  and  irreligious  books  and  pamph- 
lets, tending  to  lead  the  mind  away  from  sober  and  serious 
duty,  to  infect  the  inexperienced  and  unwary  with  notions 
which  promote  infidelity  and  corruption,  and  to  alienate 
their  attention  from  the  Spirit  of  God,  under  whose  influ- 
ence and  holy  keeping  alone  is  safety ;  we  earnestly  request 
that  parents,  and  all  others  who  have  youth  under  their 
tuition,  will  keep  a  constant  eye  over  them,  and  as  much 
as  possible  guard  them  against,  and  prevent  them  from, 
wasting  their  precious  time  upon  such  unprofitable  and 
pernicious  reading;  that  they  inure  them  to  the  frequent 
and  diligent  reading  of  the  sacred  writings,  which  through 
Divine  goodness  are  afforded  to  us  for  our  instruction  in 
righteousness,  and  that  we  through  patience,  and  comfort 
of  the  Scriptures,  might  have  hope." 

1 789. — "  We  earnestly  recommend  to  all,  the  frequent 
perusal  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  according  to  repeated 
exhortations ;  and  we  at  this  time  also  recommend  the 
writings  of  our  faithful  predecessors,  and  the  accounts  tlipit 
are  published  of  their  experiences,  labours,  travels  and 
sufferings  in  the  cause  of  Christ." 

1 792. — "  We  conclude  with  recommending  you  indivi- 
dually, to  the  grace  and  good  Spirit  in  your  own  hearts, 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES. 


299 


(the  sure  guide  to  salvation,)  and  to  the  diligent  perusal  of 
the  Holy  Scriptures ;  particularly  of  those  in  which  is  re- 
corded an  account  of  the  life,  doctrines  and  sufferings  of 
our  blessed  Saviour,  beseeching  you  reverently  and  humbly 
to  walk  according  to  that  holy  pattern,  and  deeply  to  bear 
in  remembrance,  that  the  disciple  is  not  above  his  master, 
nor  the  servant  above  his  Lord." 


I  shall  conclude  the  extracts  with  the  following  declara- 
tion of  the  ancient  faith  of  the  religious  Society  of  Friends, 
viz. 

THE  PRIMITIVE  TESTIMONY  OF  THE  PEOPLE  CALLED 
QUAKERS,  &c. 

"  Dear  Friends — To  have  right  sentiments  of  God,  the 
great  Author  of  our  being,  and  of  our  duty  to  him  as  men 
and  Christians,  and  to  believe,  live  and  act  accordingly,  is 
without  doubt  a  matter  of  the  greatest  consequence  to  us, 
respecting  our  happiness  in  this  life,  and  that  life  which  is 
to  come.  And  as  we  fervently  desire  that  this  happiness 
may  be  the  lot  and  portion  of  all  mankind,  and  especially 
those  who  with  us  make  profession  of  the  Christian  religion, 
and  of  that  holy  principle  of  grace  and  truth,  which, 
through  Jesus  Christ,  is  given  to  mankind  for  their  instruc- 
tion, help  and  preservation  in  the  things  oj  God,  and  in  the 
way  of  virtue  and  godliness  ;  we  are  at  this  time  concerned 
in  that  love  of  God,  which  seeks  the  good  of  all,  to  recom- 
mend a  few  necessary  things  to  your  serious  consideration, 
in  order  that  both  Christian  knowledge  and  practice  may 
be  maintained  and  increased  among  us,  as  a  people,  for  the 
good  of  ourselves  and  our  posterity  after  us. 

"  In  the  first  place,  then,  not  to  enter  into  the  various 
opinions  of  men  of  nice  speculation  and  curiosity,  which 
have  tended  rather  to  perplex  people's  minds,  than  to  build 
them  up  in  Christian  knowledge,  these  are  evidently  right 
sentiments  of  God,  to  believe  him  to  be  a  Being  of  infinite 
purity  and  goodness,  as  well  as  wisdom  and  power ;  and 
therefore,  in  order  that  mankind  may  be  acceptable  to 
him,  it  is  necessary  that  they  should  be  pure  also.  And  as 
it  is  evident  that  all  men  have,  more  or  less,  sinned,  and 


300 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES. 


fallen  short  of  this  state,  in  order  to  redeem  them  from  it, 
and  restore  them  to  his  favour  and  acceptance,  it  is  neces- 
sary both  that  their  past  sins  sould  be  remitted  and  for- 
given ;  and  also  that  they  should  be  washed,  sanctified  and 
purified  from  their  defilements,  without  which  men  will 
never  be  made  partakers  of  remission  of  sins  that  are  past, 
and  consequently  of  favour  and  acceptance  with  God. 

"  Now  as  these  things  are  all  that  mankind  want,  so 
God  has  provided  a  means  for  both  these  ends,  viz.  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  in  whose  name,  and  for  whose  sake, 
remission  of  sins  that  are  past  is  preached,  and  reconcilia- 
tion unto  God  promised  ;  and  for  overcoming  sin  in  the 
lu^t  of  it,  and  purifying  and  sanctifying  the  hearts  of  men, 
God,  through  Jesus  Christ,  offers  to  mankind  the  help  of 
his  good  Spirit,  as  a  lively  principle  of  virtue,  power  and 
efficacy,  for  these  good  purposes :  so  that  Christianity  is 
in  all  respects  a  perfect  institution,  completely  answering 
all  the  ends  of  religion,  which  are  the  glory  of  God  and 
the  happiness  of  mankind.  And  therefore,  in  the  entrance 
of  this  our  friendly  advice,  we  earnestly  recommend  to 
you,  that  you  have  a  reverend  regard  to  the  Christian 
doctrine  in  every  part  of  it,  and  that  you  be  humbly 
thankful  to  God,  who  in  his  providence  has  cast  your  lot 
in  such  an  age  and  country,  wherein  the  doctrine  of  Jesus 
Christ  is  publicly  and  freely  preached,  and  the  means  of 
salvation  taught  through  him. 

"  And  inasmuch  as  the  evidence  of  our  holy  religion  is 
such,  both  from  the  real  excellency  of  it ;  as  well  as  the 
external  testimonies  concerning  it,  recorded  in  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  which  we  have  the  greatest  reason  to  believe, 
not  only  from  the  credibility  of  the  history,  in  which  there 
is  the  completest  evidence  that  can  reasonably  be  required 
of  any  matters  of  fact  at  so  great  a  distance  of  time,  but 
also  from  the  inward  testimony  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  sealing 
unto  our  spirits  the  truth  of  the  gospel,  in  that  blessed  expe- 
rience of  the  good  fruits  and  effects  of  it,  which  is  witnessed 
by  all  those  who  sincerely  apply  their  hearts  to  believe  its 
doctrines  and  obey  its  precepts.  We  therefore  caution 
you  to  be  very  watchful  and  careful  how  you  ^dmit  any 
doubts  or  questionings  concerning  it,  in  giving  way  to 
some  pernicious  notions,  of  late  published  to  the  world, 
lest  the  sin  of  unbelief,  in  opposition  to  such  dear  evidence, 
should  be  at  last  charged  upon  such,  to  their  utter  con- 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES. 


301 


fusion  and  condemnation.  We  request  you,  therefore, 
that  none  be  wilhngly  ignorant  or  unbeUeving,  but  that  all 
apply  themselves,  not  only  to  believe  the  great  saving 
truths  of  the  Christian  religion,  but  put  in  practice  its 
pure  and  holy  precepts,  which  have  the  truest  tendency 
of  any  that  were  ever  published  to  the  world,  to  the  per- 
fecting of  human  nature,  and  rendering  mankind  holy  and 
happy. 

"  Having  said  thus  much  of  the  Christian  doctrine  and 
precepts  in  general,  we  take  the  liberty  to  put  you  in  re- 
membrance of  some  particulars  of  our  belief  and  practice 
agreeable  thereto. 

"  First,  We  put  you  in  mind  of  our  ancient  and  constant 
faith  in  God  the  Father,  and  in  Jesus  Christ  his  eternal 
Son,  the  true  God,  and  in  the  Holy  Spirit,  one  God  blessed 
for  evermore ;  and  that  our  Society  always  did  and  still 
do,  acknowledge  the  holy  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New 
Testament  to  be  given  by  divine  inspiration.  And  we 
earnestly  exhort  you  steadfastly  to  maintain  and  keep  the 
same  faith  pure  and  inviolable.  And  by  all  means  we  pray 
you  avoid  the  corrupt  doctrines  of  deism  and  infidelity, 
which  tend  to  irreligion  and  a  vicious  ungodly  liberty  ;  a 
liberty  not  from  sin,  but  to  sin  and  wickedness  ;  a  liberty 
to  pull  down  all  religion,  and  to  set  up  none  in  the  stead 
thereof,  for  aught  that  yet  appears  to  the  world,  to  the 
shame  and  scandal  of  all  religion,  and  even  of  human 
wisdom  and  nature  itself. 

"  Secondly,  We  put  you  in  mind  of  our  steadfast  and 
constant  testimony  to  the  coming  of  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord 
in  the  flesh;  above  seventeen  hundred  years  ago,  according 
to  the  Christian  account,  when  he  was  conceived  by  the 
power  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  born  of  the  Virgin  Mary, 
and  after  a  life  in  this  world  as  man,  during  the  space  of 
about  three  and  thirty  years,  in  the  three  last  of  which 
years  (which  was  the  time  of  his  ministry)  he  wrought 
many  real  mighty  miracles,  lived  a  most  exemplary  life, 
and  taught  a  most  heavenly  doctrine,  gave  himself  up  unto 
the  shameful  death  of  the  cross,  under  Pontius  Pilate  the 
Roman  governor,  then  in  Judea,  and  became  a  most 
satisfactory  sacrifice  and  propitiation  for  the  sins  of  the 
whole  w^orld,  upon  condition  that  men  sincerely  repent  of 
their  sins,  and  truly  turn  to  the  Lord,  by  forsaking  them, 
and  amending  and  reforming  their  hves,  and  receive  him 
26 


302 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES. 


as  their  Lord  and  Master,  submitting  themselves  to  the 
conduct  of  his  Light  and  Spirit  in  their  minds  and  con- 
sciences :  who  was  buried,  and  rose  again  the  third  day 
from  the  dead  by  the  power  of  the  Father,  and  appeared 
oftentimes  to  his  disciples  after  his  resurrection,  and  gave 
them  commission  to  preach  the  gospel  unto  all  nations, 
baptizing  them  in,  or  into,  the  name,  that  is,  power  and 
virtue,  of  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  as  Peter  did 
the  first  Gentiles  which  believed,  who  said,  as  1  began  to 
speak,  the  Holy  Ghost  fell  on  them,  as  on  us  at  the  begin- 
ning ;  then,  said  he,  remembered  I  the  word  of  the  Lord, 
how  that  he  said,  John  indeed  baptized  with  water,  but  ye 
shall  be  baptized  with  the  Holy  Ghost :  He  ascended  into 
heaven  about  forty  dajs  after  his  resurrection,  ,  and  sat 
down  at  the  right  hand  of  God  the  Father,  making  inter- 
cession for  men,  and  giving  gifts  to  them,  yea  to  the  rebel- 
lious also,  that  he,  by  the  sanctifying  virtue  of  these  gifts, 
might  prepare  their  hearts  for  himself,  to  dwell  among 
them  and  in  them  by  his  most  Holy  Spirit  r  And  from  heaven 
he  shall  come  to  judge  the  living  and  the  dead,  in  the  great 
and  general  day  of  judgment,  when  all  that  are  in  the 
graves  shall  hear  his  voice  and  come  forth,  they  that  have 
done  good  to  the  resurrection  of  life  eternal,  and  they  that 
have  done  evil  to  the  resurrection  of  damnation.  And  all 
these  doctrines  we  profess  according  to  the  plain  literal 
sense  of  the  holy  Scriptures,  which  therefore  we  earnestly 
exhort  you  steadfastly  to  believe,  and  zealously  to  maintain 
to  the  very  end  of  your  lives,  notwithstanding  all  the  oppo- 
sition and  cunning  craftiness  of  deists  and  infidels,  who  lie 
in  wail  to  deceive  you,  men  of  corrupt  minds,  and  repro- 
bate, or  of  no  judgment,  concerning  the  faith. 

"  Thirdly,  We  put  you  in  mind,  that  our  Friends  from 
the  beginning,  have  constantly  held  and  maintained,  that 
according  to  the  holy  Scriptures,  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord, 
the  eternal  Word  and  Wisdom  of  God,  is  the  true  Light, 
(called  so  on  account  of  his  divine  excellency,)  who 
enlighteneth  every  man  that  cometh  into  the  world,  John 
i.  9.  with  a  light  or  gift  of  his  own  nature,  the  life  in  him 
being  the  light  of  men,  John  i.  4.  and  therefore  superior 
to,  and  distinct  from,  the  mere  human  light  of  our  natural 
faculties  ;  because  it  is  no  constituent  part  of  men,  as 
creatures,  but  purely  the  gift  of  God,  superadded  to  them 
by  Jesus  Christ  for  their  information  and  assistance,  in 


ON  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES. 


303 


matters  of  religion,  regarding  the  favour  of  God  and  their 
eternal  salvation. 

"And,  therefore,  believe  them  not,  who  tell  you,  there 
is  no  need  of  the  grace  or  help  of  Jesus  Christ  to  deliver 
you  from  the  bondage  and  corruption  of  your  depraved 
and  sinful,  because  fallen,  nature  ;  but  that  you  are  self- 
sufficient,  or  able  of  yourselves  alone,  to  save  yourselves, 
without  the  assistance  of  Jesus  Christ  or  his  grace,  which 
doctrine  He,  of  his  infinite  mercy,  preserve  us  all  from,  as 
being  inconsistent  with,  and  destructive  of,  true  religion  ; 
and  teach  both  you  and  us,  and  all  men,  to  abstract  our 
thoughts  frequently,  but  especially  in  our  solemn  meetings, 
from  all  worldly  things  and  earthly  ideas,  to  attend  devoutly 
and  sincerely  on  the  teaching  and  guidance  of  this  hea- 
venly principle  and  gift  of  God,  through  Jesus  Christ  his 
beloved  Son,  our  Lord,  to  know  and  witness  his  blessed 
work  of  regeneration  ;  which  none  can  know  and  witness 
without  him  and  his  help,  mortifying  our  sensual  and  sinful 
appetites  and  actions,  called  in  the  sacred  writings,  the 
deeds  of  the  body,  that  we  may  live  eternally,  and  raising 
in  us  heavenly  desires,  and  bringing  forth  in  us  holy  actions, 
since  without  holiness  no  man  shall  see  the  Lord. 

"And  therefore  we  beseech  all  those  who  make  profes- 
sion with  us,  of  the  excellency  and  sufficiency  of  this  divine 
principle  and  salutary  grace,  which,  during  the  time  of 
God's  kind  visitations  to  the  souls  of  men,  is  always  near 
to  them,  to  help  them,  by  the  strength  thereof  to  keep 
their  hearts  and  minds  in  the  knowledge  and  love  of  God, 
from  wandering  from  it :  in  a  stayed  state  on  God,  espe- 
cially in  our  solemn  assemblies,  for  this  is  worshipping 
him  in  spirit  and  truth,  as  our  Saviour  taught,  John  iv.  23. 
This  is  the  way  to  have  our  hearts  washed  from  wicked- 
ness, airiness,  and  wantonness,  and  instead  thereof,  to 
have  Christ  formed  in  us.  Gal.  iv.  19.  and  to  be  blessed 
with  those  habits  of  virtue  and  piety,  which  are  necessary 
for  rendering  us  children  of  God,  and  qualifying  us  for  heirs 
of  heaven. 

"  Fourthly,  We  stir  you  up  by  way  of  remembrance, 
that  on  our  first  becoming  a  separate  people  for  the  service 
of  God  from  other  societies,  our  primitive  Friends  were 
very  remarkable  for  their  uprightness  and  honesty,  in  com- 
merce and  converse  ;  they  were  very  exact  in  performing 
their  words  and  promises,  without  shuffling  and  evasive 


304 


CONCLUSION. 


excuses,  and  insincere  dealings,  to  the  credit  and  reputa- 
tion of  the  Society  ;  much  less  did  they,  by  wheedling  and 
deceitful  pretences,  involve  themselves  in  a  multitude  of 
things  and  affairs,  which  they  had  not  understanding  and 
stock  of  their  own  to  manage  ;  and  contract  great  debts 
which  they  knew  they  were  not  able  to  pay,  and  thereby 
impose  upon  and  cheat  their  honest  neighbours,  under 
sanctified  pretences  of  religion  and  holiness  ;  which  abomi- 
nation, we  find  ourselves  obhged  solemnly  to  protest 
against.*" 

It  thus  concludes — 
And  now,  brethren,  we  commend  you  to  God,  and  to 
the  Word  of  his  grace,  which  is  able  to  build  you  up,  and 
give  you  an  inheritance  among  all  them  which  are  sancti- 
fied, through  faith  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  * 

"  Published  at  our  Men's  Meeting,  in  the  city  of  Bristol, 
the  3d  of  the  11th  month,  1731,  and  at  their  appointment 
signed  on  their  behalf  by 

"  ALEXANDER  ARSCOTT." 


CONCLUSION. 

In  closing  the  present  volume,  the  compiler  is  desirous  of 
expressing  his  full  conviction,  that  although  a  belief  in  the 
doctrines  of  the  Christian  religion  is  obligatory  upon  all 
those  who  are  blessed  with  a  knowledge  of  the  holy  Scrip- 
tures ;  yet  the  mere  assent  of  the  understanding  to  any*  form 
of  faith,  however  sound  and  scriptural  it  may  be,  is  not  of 
itself  sufiicient  to  entitle  us  to  the  dignified  character  of 
true  Christians. 

Our  blessed  and  holy  Redeemer  ha^  plainly  laid  down  the 
unalterable  terms  of  discipleship  ;  and  if  we  expect  to  be 
clothed  upon  with  the  righteousness  of  Christ  in  this  life,  or 
through  adorable  mercy  to  be  made  partakers  of  that 
exceeding  weight  of  glory  which  shall  be  revealed  hereafter, 
when  He  shall  come  in  the  kingdom  of  his  Father  and  all 
the  holy  angels  with  him,  we  must  comply  with  the  condi- 


CONCLUSION. 


305 


tions  which  He  requires.  These  conditions  inchide  both 
faith  and  obedience.  If  any  nian  will  come  after  me," 
said  the  Lord  Jesus,  "  let  him  deny  himself,  and  take  up 
his  cross  daily,  and  follow  me  and  again,  "  Ye  are  my 
friends,  if  ye  do  whatsoever  I  command  you." 

On  another  occasion,  when  the  Jews  queried  of  him, 
"  What  shall  we  do,  that  we  might  work  the  works  of 
God  ?"  he  answered  them,  "  This  is  the  work  of  God,  that 
ye  believe  on  Him  whom  God  hath  sent ;"  for  "  if  ye 
believe  not  that  1  am  He,  ye  shall  die  in  your  sins."  It  is 
therefore  necessary,  not  only  that  we  should  have  hving 
faith  in  Him,  as  the  Redeemer  and  Saviour  of  a  fallen 
world,  and  sincerely  believe  in  his  precepts  and  doctrines 
as  they  are  recorded  in  the  holy  Scriptures,  but  we  must 
also  keep  his  commandments,  and  do  his  will.  The  heart 
must  be  regenerated,  the  corrupt  nature  must  be  changed, 
the  will  must  be  subdued  ;  in  a  word,  all  things  must  become 
new,  and  all  things  of  God  ;  for  the  declaration  of  our 
Lord  remains  to  be  in  full  force,  "  Verily,  I  say  unto  you, 
except  ye  be  converted  and  become  as  little  children,  ye 
shall  not  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven." 

It  is  therefore  obvious,  that  although  the  doctrines  and 
testimonies  which  our  worthy  predecessors  faithfully  main- 
tained through  a  long  scene  of  deep  suffering,  and  which 
have  been  transmitted  to  us,  are  in  perfect  accordance 
with  the  testimony  of  the  sacred  writings,  and  absolutely 
necessary  to  be  believed;  yet  something  more  than  the 
bare  assent  of  the  mind  to  these  sacred  truths,  is  requisite, 
in  order  to  make  us  real  Quakers. 

Our  primitive  Friends  were  amongst  the  number  of  those 
humble  followers  of  the  Lamb,  "  unto  whom  it  is  given  in 
the  behalf  of  Christ,  not  only  to  believe  on  his  name,  but 
also  to  suffer  for  him."  They  patiently  endured  much  per- 
secution and  reviling  for  his  precious  name  and  cause  sake  ; 
through  all  which  they  gave  ample  proof  of  the  steadfast- 
ness of  their  faith,  and  the  sincerity  of  their  love  and  alle- 
giance to  Him  ;  being  concerned,  above  all  other  consider- 
ations, to  adorn  the  doctrines  they  preached,  by  a  life  of 
righteousness  and  holy  circumspection,  in  the  fear  of  God. 

They  were  a  humble,  self-denying,  serious  people  ;  men 
of  tender  consciences,  fearing  God  and  hating  covetous- 
ness ;  scrupulously  just  and  upright  in  all  their  deahngs ; 
plain  in  their  dress,  in  their  manners,  and  in  the  furniture 

26* 


306 


CGNCLUSION. 


of  their  houses ;  and  ardently  engaged  to  lay  up  treasures 
in  heaven,  even  durable  riches  and  righteousness,  rather 
than  to  accumulate  an  abundance  of  the  perishing  things 
of  this  uncertain  and  transitory  world.  The  consistency 
of  their  conduct  and  conversation  with  their  profession, 
and  the  purity  and  simplicity  of  their  example,  brought 
conviction  upon  the  minds  of  beholders,  and  made  them 
"  as  a  city  set  upon  a  hill,  that  could  not  be  hid." 

And  in  order  that  the  Society  of  Friends  may  again  arise 
and  shine  with  its  ancient  lustre,  and  hold  up  the  standard 
of  pure  righteousness  to  the  nations,  there  must  be  a  sin- 
cere and  fervent  engagement  of  mind  amongst  all  its  mem- 
bers, to  recur  to  first  principles :  not  only  to  "  hold  fast 
the  profession  of  their  faith  without  wavering,"  but  also  to 
show  forth  a  godly  life  and  conversation,  with  all  meek- 
ness and  hohness ;  that  thus  they  may  emulate  the  Chris- 
tian example  of  their  worthy  forefathers,  following  in  their 
footsteps,  even  as  they  followed  Christ. 

The  profession  which  the  Society  makes  is  high  and 
holy,  and  the  responsibility  that  rests  upon  its  members  is 
proportionally  great.  It  is  only  as  these  are  concerned  to 
walk  continually  in  humble  obedience  to  the  dictates  of 
the  Holy  Spirit  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  bearing  his  cross 
and  despising  the  shame  ;  by  which  the  world  will  be  cru- 
cified to  them  and  they  unto  the  v\^orld,  that  they  can  be- 
come regenerated,  quickened  Christians,  and  fulfil  the 
solemn  injunction  of  our  holy  Redeemer,  "  Let  your  fight 
so  shine  before  men,  that  they  may  see  your  good  works, 
and  glorify  your  Father  which  is  ia  heaven." 


FINIS. 


INDEX. 


A. 

ANTROBUS,BENJA]MIN,  his  tes- 
timony to  the  value  of  Bar- 
clay's Apology,  xxi. 
Declaration  of  faith  by  him  and 
others,  219 

APOLOGY  for  the  Quakers,  Bar- 
clay's, XX.  73  to  77 
Brief  Apology  for  the  Quakers, 
by    William    Chandler  and 
others,  53.  166  to  168 

ARSCOTT,  ALEXANDER,  on 
the  benefits  accruing  from  the 
coming,  death,  resurrection, 
&c.  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
214 

ASHBY,  RICHARD,  Confession 

of  Faith,  XXV.  55 
Of  the  Three  that  bear  record  in 

Heaven,  55 
On  the  miraculous  conception, 

divinity,  atonement,  and  resur- 
rection of  Jesus  Christ,  55.  175 
He  sits  at  the  right  hand  of  God, 

our  Mediator,  &c.  175,  176 
The  Holy  Spirit  is  God,  55 
On  the  holy  Scriptures,  ib. 
ATKINSON,  AARON,  declaration 

of  faith,  XXV.  179 
Miraculous  conception,  divinity, 

propitiatory  sacrifice,  kc.  of 

Jesus  Christ,  179 
He  maketh  intercession  for  us  in 

Heaven,   and  will  come  to  ; 

judge  the  world,  160  \ 
ATONEMENT,  vide  Propitiatory  | 

Sacrifice  j 

B 

BANKS,  JOHN,  his  view  of  the 
faith  of  the  primitive  Friends 
in  Christ  Jesus,  xxv.  207.  210 
Miraculous  conception,  divinity, 

and  atonement,  207,  &c. 
Quakers  believe  in  Him  for  re- 
mission of  sins  and  salvation, 
208 


ARCLAY,  ROBERT,  Catechism 
and  Cdnfession  of  Faith,  xx, 

42.  71 

Apology,  XX.  73  to  77.  249 
Testimonies  to  their  excellence, 
xxi. 

Anarchy  of  the  Ranters,  approv- 
ed by  the  morning  meeting, 
xxvii. 

The  church  has  power  to  disown 
such  as  deny  its  doctrines, 
xxxi. 

On  the  Three  that  bear  record  in 

Heaven,  42 
Quakers  no  Socinians,  43 
Divinity  of  Christ  asserted,  42, 

43.  71,  72,  73 
Conjunction  and  unity  of  the 

eternal  Son  of  God  in  and  with 
the  man  Christ  Jesus,  72 

Jesus  Christ  is  our  Mediator,  74 

The  gift  of  the  Holy  Spirit  does 
not  equal  us  with  Christ,  74 

Quakers  do  not  deny  or  dero- 
gate from  the  atoning  sacrifice 
of  Jesus  Christ,  73  to  77 

All  remission  of  sins  is  in  and  by 
virtue  of  that  sacrifice,  75,  76, 
77 

Ail  men  partake  of  the  effects  of 
Adam's  fall,  75.  77 

It  is  the  duty  of  all  those  who 
have  the  sacred  writings  to 
believe  in  their  record  of 
Christ's  coming,  suflferings, 
&c.  75 

It  is  damnable  unbelief  not  to 

believe  it,  75 
Man  has  no  power  or  ability  to 

bring  himself  out  of  the  fall, 

75.  77 

No  acts  of  ours,  however  good, 
can  procure  remission  of  past 
sins,  76 

The  holy  Scriptures  are  a  second- 
ary rule,  249 
Quakers  deny  all  pretences  to 


308 


INDEX. 


the  revelation  of  new  doctrines, 
251 

Scriptures  are  the  only  standard 
to  try  doctrines  by,  231 

They  cannot  beguile  any  one, 
252 

BARNARDISTON,  GILES,  tes- 
timony  against  the  unsound 
doctrines  of  Jeffery  Bullock, 
145  to  152.  239 
Quakers'  testimony  to  the  Christ 
that  died  at  Jerusalem,  151. 
239 

He  died  for  the  sins  of  the  whole 
world,  151,  239 

Quakers  have  a  reverent  esteem 
for  his  precious  blood  shed  at 
Jerusalem,  152 
BATHURST,  ELIZABETH,  re- 
ply to  false  charges  against  the 
Quakers,  159 

They  believe  in  the  divinity,  hu- 
manity, and  propitiatory  sacri- 
fice of  Christ,  159  to  162 

He  is  our  Mediator,  &c.  161 

They  fully  believe  the  Scriptures, 
159.  274 

BAYLES,  THOMAS,  declaration 
of  faith,  200 
Inspiration  of  the  holy  Scriptures, 
ib. 

On  the  atonement  of  Jesus  Christ, 
201 

BAYLY,  WILLIAM,  Christ  Jesus 

the  only  sacrifice  for  sin,  142 
Quakers  own  his  blood  both  as. 

outwardly  shed  and  inwardly 

sprinkled,  142, 143 
Christ's  blood  more  excellent  than 

that  of  the  best  man  that  ever 

was  or  shall  be,  142 
His  miraculous  conception  and 

divinity  owned,  142  to  144 
Denies  that  the  light  of  Christ  is 

tlie  blood  that  cleanseth,  144 
Christ's  manhood  and  body  glo- 
rious, 144 
BEAVEN,  THOMAS,  declaration 

of  faith,  xxvi.  57 
Of  the  Three  that  bear  record  in 

Heaven,  57 
Of  the  miraculous  conception, 

divinity  and  humanity,  of  Jesus 

Christ,  ib. 
He  is  the  Atonement  for  our  sins, 


our  Intercessor,  Mediator,  and 
Advocate  with  the  Father,  57 

The  Holy  Ghost  proceedeth  from 
the  Father  and  the  Son,  ib. 

On  the  holy  Scriptures,  286 
BINGLEY,  WILLIAM,  declara- 
tion of  faith,  58.  220 

Christ  Jesus  our  light,  life,  &c. 
58;  our  Mediator  and  Advo- 
cate with  the  Father,  221 

On  the  divinity  of  Christ,  and  the 
Three  that  bear  record  in  Hea- 
ven, 58.  221  to  231 

On  the  holy  Scriptures,  224 
BISHOP,  GEORGE,  on  the  mira- 
culous   conception,  divinity, 
and  atonement  of  Jesus  Christ, 
119 

There  is  no  remission  of  sins, 
salvation,  or  justification  but 
by  him,  120 
BOURN,  EDWARD,  on  the  Three 
that  bear  record  in  Heaven, 
52 

Christ  Jesus  is  our  Atonement 
and  Advocate  with  the  Father, 
144, 145 

We  are  justified  by  faith  in  him, 

145 

On  the  holy  Scriptures,  272 
BOAVATER,  JOHN,  declaration 
of  faith,  59,  221  to  231 
On  the  Three  that  bear  record  in 

Heaven,  59 
On  the  divinity  of  Christ,  59. 221 
He  is  our  light,  life.  Mediator 
and  Advocate,  221 
BRISTOL  men's  meeting,  testimo- 
ny to   the   ancient  faith  of 
Friends,  299 
BULLOCK,  JEFFERY,  disowned 
for  denying  Jesus  Christ,  who 
died  at  Jerusalem,  to  be  the 
Judge    and    Saviour  of  the 
world,  and  for  denying  his  pro- 
pitiatory sacrifice  for  the  sins 
of  the  world,  145  to  152.  236 
to  243 

Reply  to  some  of  his  errors  by  I. 

Pennington,  116.  150 
Giles  Barnardiston's  testimony 

against  him,  151 
Inveighs  against  the  ministers 

and  elders,  150 
Testimony  of  Haverhill  meet- 


INDEX. 


309 


ing  against  his  doctrines,  239. 
241 

Condemns  his  errors,  241 
BURNYEAT,  JOHN,  faith  of 
Friends  in  Jesus  Christ,  and 
his  propitiatory  sacrifice,  xxiii. 
164  ;  he  died,  rose  again,  as- 
cended into  glory,  and  is 
now  at  the  right  hand  of  God, 
165 

Of  the  Three  that  bear  record  in 
Heaven,  52 

Christ  Jesus  is  now  come  the  se- 
cond time  by  his  Holy  Spirit 
in  our  hearts,  165 
BURROUGH,  EDWARD,  faith 
of  Friends  in  the  Three  that 
bear  record  in  Heaven,  43 

Declaration  of  faith,  121 

Christ  Jesus  is  our  propitiation, 
and  will  be  our  Judge,  121;  his 
divinity  asserted,  121  to  124 

The  Holy  Spirit  leads  all  who 
obey  it  into  the  belief  of  all 
that  is  recorded  in  holy  Scrip- 
ture, 123 

On  the  holy  Scriptures,  266,  267 


CADE,  JOHN,  confession  of  faith,  j 
XXV.  55 

On  the  Three  that  bear  record  in 
Heaven,  55 

The  Holy  Spirit  is  God,  ib. 

Miraculous  conception,  divinity, 
and  propitiatory  sacrifice  of 
Jesus  Christ,  ib.  175,  176 

He  is  ascended,  and  sits  in  glory 
at  the  right  hand  of  the  Fa- 
ther, 176 

He  is  our  Mediator,  and  will  be 
our  Judge,  ib. 
CATER,  SAMUEL,  Quakers  own 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  ex- 
pect salvation  by  him  only, 
153 

His  miraculous  conception  own- 
ed, 154 

CHANDLER,  WILLIAM,  confes- 
sion of  faith,  XXV.  53.  166 

Of  the  Three  that  bear  record  in 
Heaven,  53 

On  the  miraculous  conception, 
divinity,  propitiatory  sacrifice, 


resurrection,  &c.  of  Christ  Je- 
sus, 166  to  168 
He  is  our  Mediator  and  Advo- 
cate, 166 
On  the  holy  Scriptures,  275 
CHEEVERS,  SARAH,  declara- 
tion of  faith,  131 
Miraculous  birth,  divinity,  death, 
resurrection  and  ascension  of 
Christ,  ib. 
He  shall  come  again  to  judg- 
ment, ib. 

CHRIST  JESUS  our  Mediatorand 
Intercessor,  xvi.  44, 45.  57,  58. 
60.  62.  66.  68,  69.'  74.  80.  82. 
85,  86.  89.  96.  102.  105.  107. 
113.116 

Our  propitiation,  see  Propitiato- 
ry Sacrifice,  and  Quakers 
Miraculous  conception   of,  see 
Quakers,    and    Divinity  of 
Christ 

He  is  the  true  light  which  en- 
lighteneth  every  man,  xvi.  50, 
5J.  55.  58.  61.  63.  70.  78.  86. 
88.  91,  92.  96,  97.  102.  118, 
119.  126,  127.  129.  134,  135. 
138,  139.  141 
CLARIDGE,  RICHARD,  decla- 
ration of  faith,  xxvi.  183 
I  Miraculous  conception,  divinity 
and  atonement  of  Jesus  Christ, 
56.  183 

He  is  both  God  and  man,  our 
Mediator  and  Intercessor,  183, 
184 

On  the  Three  that.bear  record  in 

Heaven,  56 
Scriptures  are  the  best  declara- 
tion of  Christian  faith,  &c.  ib. 
CONFESSIONS  OF  FAITH  re- 
peatedly issued  by  Friends, 
xvii. 

By  Richard  Farnsworth,  xviii.  50 
By  George  Fox  the  younger, 

xviii.  49.  124.  128 
By  John  Crooke,  xviii.  54.  132 
By  William  Smith,  xviii.  136 
By  Isaac  Pennington,  xviii.  110 
to  115 

By  William  Penn,  xix.  44,  45.  78, 

79.  81.  87.  89,  90 
By  George  Fox,  xix.  40,  41.  63. 
65.  67 

By  William  Dewsbery,  xviii.  119 


310 


INDEX. 


CONFESSIONS  OF  FAITH ;  by 
Humphrey  Smith,  xviii.  118 
By  Robert  Barclay,  xx.  42, 43. 71 
By  George  Whitehead,  xix.  xxii. 

58.  97.  101,  102.  219 
Charles  Marshall,  xxiii.  58.  138 
to  142 

By  John  Burnyeat  and  John  Wat- 
son, xxiii.  52,  164 

By  George  Whitehead  and  others 
to  parliament,  xxiv.  58,  220  to 
230. 

By  the  Society  and  presented  to 
Parliament,  xxiv,  58.  216 

By  William  Fallowfield  and  oth- 
ers, xxiv.  58.  220. 

By  Thirty-two  persons  and  pre- 
sented to  Parliament,  xxiv.  230 

By  William  Chandler  and  others, 
XXV.  53,  166 

By  John  Tompkins,  xxv.  196  to 
200 

By  Benjamin  Coole,  xxv.  53 
By  Richard  Ashby  and  others, 

xxv.  55,  175 

By  Thomas  Story  and  others, 

xix.-xxv.  179 
By  6aniel  Philli  ps,  xxv;  203 
By  John  Banks,  xxv.  207  to  210 
By  Richard  Claridge,  xxvi.  183 
By  Thomas  Beaven,  xxvi.  57 
By  the  Men's  Meeting  of  Bristol, 

xxvi.  299 

By  Edward  Burrough,  121 

By  Joseph  Wyeth,  180 

By  Catharine  Evans  and  Sarah 

Cheevers,  131 
By  William  Bayly,  142 
By  the  Hartford  Quakers,  154 
By  Elizabeth  Bathurst,  159 
By  Clement  Lake,  163 
By  John  Field,  173 
By  Thomas  Ellwood,  178 
By  John  Gratton,  187 
By  Christopher  Story,  191 
By  Robert  Haskins,  194 
By  Thomas  Bayles  and  others, 

200 

By  a  Meeting  of  ministering 
Friends,  held  in  Philadelphia, 
217 

By   George    Whitehead,  John 

Field  and  others,  219,  220 
By  Alexander  Parker,  xviii. 


Confessions  of  Faith  are  entitled 
to  the  character  of  Society  acts, 
xxvii. 

COOLE  BENJAMIN,  Confession 
of  Faith,  xxv.  53 

Of  the  Three  that  bear  record  in 
heaven, 53 

On  the  divinity,  glorious  offices, 
propitiatory  sacrifice,  Sec.  of 
Jesus  Christ,  53,  170,  172 

On  the  Holy  Scriptures,  276 
COTTON,  ARTHUR,  declaration 
of  faith,  200 

The  inspiration  of  Holy  Scrip- 
ture, 200 

On   the   propitiation   of  Jesus 
Christ,  201 
CRISP,  SAMUEL,  faith  in  Jesus 
Christ,  107 

Quakers  believe  ill  his  atonement, 
207 

On  the  Holy  Scriptures,  286 
CROOKE,  JOHN,  Confession  of 
faith,  xviii.  54.  132 
Quakers  have  not  receded  from 
their  first  principles,  xxxiv.  54. 
132 

Of  the  Holy  Three  that  bear  re- 
cord in  heaven,  54 

Divinity  of  Christ,  54.  132  to  136 

He  died  as  a  propitiation  for  our 
sins,  133 

Christ's  offering  cannot  be  slight- 
ed by  the  christian,  134 

If  He  had  not  died  for  us,  we 
should  have  perished,  134 

On  the  resurrection,  135 
CURWEN,    THOMAS,  on  the 
Three   that  bear   record  in 
Heaven,  &c.  51 

Divinity  of  Christ,  &;c.  ib.  . 

D. 

DECLARATIONS  OF  FAITH, 

See  Confessions 
DEHORN,  GEORGE, declaration 
of  faith,  200 
Divine   authority  of  the  Holy 

Scriptures,  200 
Divinity  and  propitiation  of  Jesus 
Christ,  201 
DEWSBERY,  WILLIAM,  Christ 
is  the  true  Saviour,  119 
On  the  miraculous  conception, 


INDEX. 


311 


divinity  and  propitiatory  Sacri- 
fice of  Jesus  Christ,  119. 
On  the  Holy  Scriptures,  265 
The  revelations  of  Jesus  Christ 
are  according  to  Scripture,  265 
DISCIPLINE  OF  FRIENDS,  re- 
quires that  the  manuscripts  of 
works  on  doctrines  be  submit- 
ted to  the  morning'  meeting,  or 
meeting  for  sufferings,  xxix. 
Rule  requiring  that  such  as  are 
unsound  in  doctrine,  shall  be 
dealt  with  and  disowned,  xxx. 
244 

Disownment  of  Jeffery  Bullock 
for  unsound  doctrines,  xxx.  237 
to  244 

Quarterly  and  monthly  meetings 
are  required  to  see  that  minis- 
ters who  travel  are  sound  in 
doctrine,  245 
Rule  of  Philadelphia,  Baltimore, 
North  Carolina,  Ohio  and  In- 
diana yearly  meetings,  rel-r.tive 
to  such  as  deny  the  divinity  of 
Christ,  Szc.  xxx.  246 
DIVINITY  OF  JESUS  CHRIST, 
believed  in  by  the  Society  of 
Friends,  xv.  xxii.  xxiii.  40,41, 
42  to  246.  248. 259.  273 

E. 

ECCLESTONE,  THEODORE, 
testimony  concerning  John 
Crooke,  185 

On  the  divinity  and  glorious  offi- 
ces of  Jesus  Christ,  1!16 

He  is  our  atonfement  for  sin  and 
advocate  with  the  Father,  ib. 
EDMUNDSON,  WILLIAM,  on 
the  divinity  and  offices  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  168 

He  is  our  propitiation,  Mediator, 
Intercessor  and  Advocate  with 
the  Father,  168,  169 
ELLWOOD,  THOMAS,  submits 
his  manuscript  Epistle  to  the 
morning  meeting,  xxviii. 

Declaration  of  faith,  &c.  178 

On  the  divinity  and  propitiation 
of  Jesus  Christ,  177  to  179 

He  is  our  Mediator  and  Advo- 
cate, the  Judge  of  quick  and 
dead,  178 

Tlie  Quakers  pray  to  him,  179 


Defence  of  William  Penn  from 
the  charge  of  Deism,  177  to  179 

On  the  excellency  of  the  holy 
Scriptures,  280 
EPISTLE  of  sixty-six  Friends,  re- 
lative to  the  separation  of  Wil- 
kinson and  Story,  147 
EVANS,  CATHARINE,  declara- 
tion of  faith,  miraculous  con- 
ception, divinity,  death,  resur- 
rection, &:c.  of  Christ  Jesus,  131 

f: 

FALL  OF  MAN— See  Quakers. 

FALLOWFIELD,  WILLIAM,  de- 
claration of  faith,  kc.  58.  221, 
230 

Jesus  Christ  our  Mediator,  Advo- 
cate and  true  Light,  221 

On  the  Three  that  bear  record 
in  Heaven,  58 
EARNS  WORTH,  RICHARD,  de- 
claration of  faith,  xviii.  50.  265 

On  the  Three  that  bear  record 
in  Heaven,  50 

Divinity  and  propitiatory  sacri- 
fice of  Christ,  50 

On  the  Holy  Scriptures,  50,  265 
FIDDEMAN,  JOHN,  declaration 
of  faith,  XXV.  55 

On  the  Three  that  bear  record  in 
Heaven,  55 

Miraculous  birth,  divinity,  pro- 
pitiatory death,  resurrection 
and  ascension  of  Christ,  55. 
176 

He  is  our  Mediator  and  the  Light 
of  the  world,  175,  176 

Oo  the  Holy  Scriptures,  280 
FIELD,  JOHN,  on  the  excellence 
of  Barclay's  Apology,  xxi. 

On  the  Three  that  bear  record  in 
Heaven,  56 
I     Quakers  do  not  deny  the  Scrip- 
ture Trinity,  ib. 

Divinity,  and  propitiation  of  Je- 
sus-Christ  owned,  173 

He  is  our  Mediator  and  shall 
come  to  judge  the  world,  173 

The  resurrection  owned,  174 

On  the  Holy  Scriptures,  279 
FISHER,  SAMUEL,  Quakers  ex- 
pect remission  of  sins  and  jus- 
tification by  Christ  Jesus  only, 
131^ 


312 


INDEX. 


FOX,  GEORGE,  declaration  of 

faith  to  the  Governor  of  Bar- 

badoes,  xix.  65 
Testimony  to  the  Quakers'  belief 

respecting  Christ,  xix. 
Confession  of  faith  from  Worces- 
ter jail,  XX.  67 
Of  the  Three  that  bear  record  in 

Heaven,  40.  42 
The  divinity  of  Christ  asserted, 

40,  42.  62,  63.  65 
Christ  our  atoning  Sacrifice,  62, 

63,  64,  65 
He  who  does  not  believe  in  the 

offering  of  Christ  is  condemned 

already,  63 
Epistle  written  by  him  and  Ellis 

Hookes,  63 
Testimony   against  those  who 

deny  the  propitiation  of  Christ, 

64 

Jesus  Christ  our  Mediator  and 
alone  Saviour,  65.  68 

HLs  body  and  blood  are  holy,  69 

He  enjoins  it  on  Friends  in  Ame- 
rica to  teach  the  Indians  to  be- 
lieve in  Jesus  Christ  as  the 
propitiation  for  their  sins,  70 

On  the  Holy  Scriptures,  247 
FOX,  GEORGE,  the  Younger,  de- 
claration of  faith  in  the  holy 
Three,  49 

On  the  divinity  of  Christ,  &c.  49, 
124  to  128 

Remission  of  sins  is  only  through 
his  propitiatory  death,  &c.  126 

On  the  fall  and  redemption  of 
man,  126 

On  the  resurrection  and  everlast- 
ing rewards  and  punishments, 
127 

FULLER,  SAMUEL,  divine  au- 
thority and  inspiration  of  the 
holy  Scriptures,  213 

Miraculous  conception,  divinity 
and  atonement  of  Jesus  Christ 
owned,  213 

Jesus  Christ  is  at  the  right  hand 
of  God,  our  Mediator  and  Ad- 
vocate, 213 

He  is  Judge  of  quick  and  dead, 
213 

On  the  excellence  of  the  holy 
Scriptures, 


FIJRLY,  JOHN,  declaration  of  the 
faith  of  Friends,  200,  201 

G. 

GIBSON,  WILLIAM,  the  doctrine 
of  the  sufficiency  of  divine 
grace  does  not  make  void  the 
coming  and  atoning  sacrifice 
of  Jfesus  Christ,  158 
Miraculous  conception,  divinity 
and  humanity  of  Christ  own- 
ed, 158 

On  the  holy  Scriptures,  272 
GILL,  ROGER,  declaration  of  the 
faith  of  Friends,  179 

Miraculous  birth,  divinity  and 
propitiatory  sacrifice  of  Jesus 
Christ  owned,  179 

He  is  our  Intercessor  in  Heaven, 
and  will  finally  judge  the 
world,  180 
GRATTON,  JOHN,  testimony  to 
the  glorious  divinity  and  of- 
fices of  Jesus  Christ,  187  to 
191 

His  miraculous  conception,  pro- 
pitiatory death,  &c.  187,  188 

He  is  our  Mediator,  Advocate 
and  Intercessor,  our  All  in  all, 
188  to  191 

H. 

HARTFORD  Quakers'  testimony 
for  Christ  Jesus,  154  to  157 
Belief  in  his  miraculous  con- 
ception, holy  life,  miracles, 
crucifixion,  resurrection,  as- 
cension, glorification  in  Hea- 
ven and  second  coming,  154  to 
157 

In  his  divinity,  propitiation  and 
mediatorship,  ib. 
HASKINS,  ROBERT,  declaration 
of  faith,  194 

Quakers  always  believed  in  the 
divinity,  miraculous  birth,  me- 
ritorious death,  resurrection 
and  glorification  of  Jesus 
Christ,  ib. 

He  is  our  Mediator  and  Advo- 
cate, 195. 
HAYDOCK,  ROGER,  denies  that 
the  ivhole  Christ  is  in  man,  174 

Divinity,  &:c.  of  Jesus  Christ,  ib. 

On  the  holy  Scriptures,  279 


INDEX. 


313 


HODDEN,  RICHARD,  on  the  di- 
vinity, atonement,  attributes 
and  offices  of  Jesus  Christ, 
130 

HODGES,  JOSEPH,  confession  of 
the  faith  of  Friends,  xxv.  53 
Of  the  Holy  Three  in  Heaven, 
53 

Of  the  miraculous  conception, 
divinity  and  offices  of  Christ, 
166  to  168 

He  is  now  at  the  right  hand  of 
the  Father,  perfect  God  and 
perfect  man,  our  Mediator  and 
Advocate,  166 

He  offered  up  his  life  a  sacrifice 
for  sinners,  ib. 

He  is  omnipresent,  167 

On  the  holy  Scriptures,  275 
HOLME,  BENJAMIN,  on  the  di- 
vinity and  propitiatory  sacrifice 
of  Christ,  210  to  213 

Quakers  hold  it  absolutely  ne- 
cessary to  believe  in  these 
doctrines^  211 

On  the  excellence  of  the  holy 
Scriptures,  285 
HOOKES,  ELLIS,  epistle  written 
by  him  and  George  Fox,  63 

Divinity  and  propitiatory  sacri- 
fice of  Jesus  Christ,  63,  64 

Quakers  have  a  high  esteem  of 
Christ's  sufferings,  death  and 
blood,  ib. 

Of  the  Three  that  bear  record  in 
Heaven,  63 
HOULDEN,  WILLIAM,  on  the 
Three  that  bear  record  in  Hea- 
ven, 51 

Deity  of  Jesus  Christ  asserted, 
ib. 

HOWARD,  LUKE,  divinity  and 
humanity  of  Jesus  Christ  own- 
ed, 137 

The  Three  that  bear  record  in 

Heaven,  ib. 
Jesus  Christ  a  sacrifice  for  sin, 

138 

HOWGILL,  FRANCIS,  Quakers 
believe  in  the  holy  Three,  49 
They  do  not  deny  a  distinction 
between  Father,  Son  and  Holy 
Spirit,  ib. 
Miraculous  conception  and  divi- 
nity of  Christ,  124 
27 


On  the  inestimable  value  of  the 

holy  Scriptures,  267  to  270 
The  translators  of  them  were  not 
without  the  aid  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  in  their  works,  269 
HUBBERTHORN,  RICHARD, 
on  the  holy  Scriptures,  264 

I. 

JACKSON,  JAMES,  on  the  holy 

Scriptures,  272 
JENNINGS,  SAMUEL,  reply  to 

G.  Keith,  218 
Quakers  believe  all  the  Scripture 

testimony   respecting  Christ, 

219 

They  own  his  propitiatory  sacri- 
fice, ib. 

JOHNS,  RICHARD,  declaration 
of  faith,  &c.  179 
Divinity  and  offices  of  Christ, 
ib. 

JEFFRAY,  ANDREW,sentiments 
respecting  Barclay's  works, 
xxii. 

L. 

LAKE,  CLEMENT,  on  the  divini- 
ty and  offices  of  Jesus  Christ, 
163 

He  is  at  the  right  hand  of  God 

in  the  heavens,  our  Redeemer 

and  Saviour,  ib. 
The  Quakers  own  satisfaction  by 

the  blood  of  Christ,  according 

to  Scripture,  164 
LAYTHES,  THOMAS,  owns  the 

divinity  of  Christ,  162 
LIGHT  of  Christ  Jesus,  Quakers 

do  not  inculcate  the  doctrine 

of  its  universality  and  efficacy, 

in  opposition  to  the  outward 

coming,  sufferings  and  atoning 

death  of  the  Son  of  God,  xvi. 

xix.  51.  55.  57.  60.  62.  75.  80. 

84.  86.  88,  89.  91.  98.  101,  102. 

105.  111.  116.  118,  119.  121. 

129.  134.  137.  139.  144.  151. 

153.  155.  157,  158,  165.  167. 

171.  173,  174,  175.  182.  184. 

186,  187.  193,  194.  196.  204. 

207,  208.  211.  213.  219.  221. 

223.  239.  244 
A  belief  in  the  light  of  Christ  in 

tho  conscience  is  not  the  sum 


314 


INDEX. 


total  of  the  Quakers'  creed  or 

faith,  203,  204 
LINDLEY,  BENJAMIN,  on  the 

divinity  and  offices  of  Christ 

Jesus,  187 
On  the  holy  Scriptures,  284 
LLOYD,  THOMAS,  meeting  of 

ministers  held  at  his  house, 

217 

Declaration  of  faith  by  him  and 
others,  ib. 
LIVINGSTON,  PATRICK,  testi- 
mony  to  the  excellence  of  Bar- 
clay's Apology,  xxi. 

M. 

MARSHALL,  CHARLES,  decla- 
ration of  the  faith  of  Friends, 
xxiii.  58.  139 

Christ  Jesus  is  our  light  and  life, 
our  Mediator  and  Advocate 
with  the  Father,  138 

On  the  divinity,  glorious  titles 
and  offices  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  138  to  142 

Quakers  do  not  undervalue 
Christ's  offering  for  sin,  139, 
141 

On  the  Three  that  bear  record  in 
Heaven,  58 

The  light  of  Christ  in  the  con- 
science is  not  whole  Christy  139, 
140 

On  the  holy  Scriptures,  271 
MARTIN,  RICHARD,  testimony 
concerning  Jesus  Christ,  156, 
157 

Quakers  believe  in  the  miracu- 
lous conception,  divinity,  pro- 
pitiatory sacrifice,  resurrection 
and  glorification  of  Jesus 
Christ,  ib. 
MEETING  for  Sufferings  in  Lon- 
don have  charge  of  the  press 
in  printing  Friends'  books, 
xxviii. 

MEETING  of  ministering  Friends 
in  Philadelphia,  217 

MEN'S  meeting  of  Bristol,  testi- 
mony to  the  ancient  faith  of 
the  Society  of  Friends,  xxvi. 

MORNING  meeting  in  London, 
manuscript  writings  relating  to 
Friends'  principles  to  be  sub- 
mitted to  its  inspection,  xxvii. 


N. 

NEJWTON,  FRANCIS,  declaration 
of  faith  by  him  and  others,  200 

O. 

OLDNER,  GEORGE,  confession 

of  faith,  &c.  230 
OWEN,  ROBERT,  confession  of 

faith,  &:c.  217 
OWEN,  GRIFFITH,  confession  of 

faith,  (fee.  ib. 

P. 

PARKE,  JAMES,  declaration  of 
the  faith  of  Friends,  58.  221  to 
231 

On  the  divinity  of  Jesus  Christ, 
and  the  Three  that  bear  record 
in  Heaven,  58 

Jesus  Christ  is  our  light,  life, 
Mediator  and  Advocate  with 
the  Father,  221.  231 
PENN,  WILLIAM,  his  belief  in 
the  divinity  of  Christ,  xix.  43. 
45.  77  to  94 

His  testimony  to  the  value  of 
Barclay's  Apology,  and  other 
writings,  xx. 

The  Quakers  have  ever  believed 
in  the  Holy  Three  that  bear 
record  in  Heaven,  43.  45.  90 

Quakers  sincerely  own  the  suf- 
ferings and  death  of  Christ  as 
a  propitiation  for  sin,  43.  79  to 
94 

Jesus  Christ  is  our  Mediator,  44, 

45.  80.  85,  86.  89 
Christ  is  more  than  our  example, 

80.  89 

Quakers  call  upon  God  in  the 
name  and  through  the  media- 
tion of  Jesus  Christ,  80 

It  is  sacrilege  to  rob  Jesus  Christ 
of  his  Godhead,  ib. 

Reply  to  a  Socinian's  charges  a- 
gainst  G.  Fox,  ib. 

Quakers  do  not  believe  the  Light 
within  to  be  the  offering  of 
Christ  Jesus,  84 

They  are  led  by  the  Spirit  of 
Christ,  reverently  to  confess 
to  the  sufferings  and  death  of 
Christ  as  a  propitiatory  sacri- 
fice for  sin,  ib. 

He  is  our  Intercessor,  85,  86 


INDEX. 


313 


His  offering  himself  up  is  a  great, 
part  of  his  Mediatorship,  U6 

Quakers  do  not  believe  that  Je- 
sus of  Nazareth  was  Christ's 
instrument  to  appear  in,  ib. 

No  acts  of  ours,  however  good  in 
themselves,  can  possibly  pro- 
cure the  remission  of  past  sins, 
87.  This  is  only  to  be  obtain- 
ed through  Christ's  sacritice, 
87,  88 

Quakers  do  not  believe  that  the 
Light  in  man  is  whole  Christ, 
91  to  94 

They  do  not  believe  that  God  is 
comprehensible  in  man,  ib. 

Elhvood's  defence  of  Penn,  177 

He  often  prayed  to  Jesus  Christ 
that  was  crucified,  179 

On  the  holy  Scriptures,  44.  252 
to  257. 

Quakers  renounce  all  pretence  to 
the  revelation  of  any  new  doc- 
trines, 253 
PENNINGTON,  ISAAC,  asserts 
the  faith  of  Friends  in  the  Christ 
that  died  at  Jerusalem,  xviii. 
110  to  118 

On  the  Three  that  bear  record  in 
heaven,  47 

Divinity  and  propitiation  of  Jesus 
Christ,  xix.  110  to  118 

Jesus  Christ  is  our  Mediator  and 
Intercessor,  113.  117 

Quakers  own  redemption  by  the 

•  blood  of  Christ,  114,  115 

Reply  to  Jeffery  Bullock's  charge 
against  Friends,  116 

Whole  God  or  Christ  not  in  man, 
but  only  a  measure,  151 

None  to  minister  but  such  as  are 
in  unity  with  the  Elders  and 
the  church,  150,  151 

On  the  holy  Scriptures,  2G3 
PHILLIPS,  DANIEL,  confession 
of  faith,  XXV.  203 

Quakers  own  Jesus  Christ,  both 
as  he  is  glorified  in  the  heavens 
and  as  he  is  the  Light  of  the 
world,  203 

His  Divinity  and  atonement  as- 
serted by  them,  203  to  206 

They  esteem  it  necessary  to  be- 
lieve in  the  incarnation,  suffer- 


ings, death,  fcc^  of  Jesus  Christ, 
204 

A  belief  in  the  Light  within  is  not 
the  whole  creed  of  the  Quakers, 
203 

On  the  Holy  Scriptures,  284 
The  Spirit  of  Christ  will  never 
lead  any  to  undervalue  the 
Holy  Scriptures,  ib. 
PLUMSTEAD,  EDWARD,  testi- 
mony concerning  Christ  Jesus, 
156 

Miraculous  conception.  Divinity, 
propitiatory  sufferings  and 
death,  resurrection  and  ascen- 
sion of  Jesus  Christ,  owned, 
156,  157 

Propitiatory  sacrifice  of  our  Lord 
and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ  own- 
ed by  the  Quakers,  xvi.  xix. 
xxii.  43,  44.  51,  52,  53.  56,  57. 
60.  62,  63,  64, 65.  67, 68,  69,70, 
71,  72,  73,  74,  75,  76,  77.  80. 
82, 83, 84,  85,  86,  87, 88,  89,  90, 
91.  95,  96,  97.  99, 100, 101, 102, 
103,  104,  105  to  120.  125,  126. 
129. 133  to  136. 139. 141  to  145. 
151  to  158.  161.  164,  165,  166 
to  192.  196  to  202.  204  to  208. 
210  to  217.  219.  221.  230.  233 
to  236.  239,  240.  259 
PYOTT,  ALEXANDER,  confes- 
sion of  faith,  XXV.  53.  166 

Of  the  Three  tljat  bear  record  in 
heaven, 53 

On  the  miraculous  conception. 
Divinity,  propitiatory  sacrifice, 
resurrection  and  ascension  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  166  to  168 

He  is  now  at  the  right  hand  of 
God,  our  mediator  and  advo- 
cate, 166 

He  is  omnipresent,  167 

On  the  Holy  Scriptures,  275 

Q. 

QUAKERS,  causes  of  their  being 
so  greatly  misrepresented,  xiv. 

XV. 

They  deny  the  charge  of  believ- 
ing that  whole  God  and  Christ 
are  in  men,  xvii.  74.  91  to  94 

They  believe  in  the  Holy  Three 
that  bear  record  in  heaven,  xv. 
xxii.  39  to  59 


316 


INDEX. 


They  believe  in  the  proper  Divi- 
nity of  the  Lord  Jesus,  xv.  xxii. 
xxiii.  40,  41  to  246.  248.  259. 
273 

They  beheve  in  his  miraculous 
conception,  xvi.  53.  57.  59.  65. 
88,  89.  101,  102, 103.  108.  112. 
119.  124,  125.  127.  144.  153, 
154.  157,  158.  166.  173.  175. 
179.  181.  183.  187.  191,  192. 
194.  199.  207.  213.  217.  220. 
234.  239. 

They  own  the  sufferings  and 
death  of  Jesus  Christ  as  a  pro- 
pitiation for  the  sins  of  the 
whole  world.  See  Propitiatory 
Sacrifice. 

They  believe  in  Jesus  Christ,  both 
as  outwardly  manifested  in  the 
flesh,  and  inwardly  revealed  by 
the  Holy  Spirit,  xvi.  See  Light 
of  Christ  Jesus. 

Declaration  of  their  Faith.  See 
Confessions  of  Faith. 

Refutation  of  the  charge  that  they 
have  no  settled  form  of  doc- 
trine, xvii. 

Their  confessions  of  faith  are 
more  numerous  than  those  of 
any  other  religious  Society, 
xxvi. 

Disownment  of  J.  Bullock  for 
denying  the  Divinity  of  Christ 
and  his  propitiatory  sacrince, 
XXX.  145  to  152.  236  to  243 

The  Society  have  always  held  the 
same  principles,  xxxiii.  xxxv. 

They  believe  in  the  inspiration 
and  Divine  authority  of  the 
holy  Scriptures.  See  Scrip- 
tures. 

They  believe  in  the  resurrection. 
See  Resurrection. 
•    They  own  Christ  Jesus  as  Medi- 
ator.   See  Christ  Jesus. 

They  believe  in  the  fall  of  man, 
43.  73  to  77.  87.  126. 129.  134. 
155. 157. 161. 166. 184. 190.197. 
206.  211.  215 

They  hold  that  Christ  was  more 
than  a  figure  or  example,  80.  90 

To  disbelieve  the  Scripture  decla- 
rations concerning  Jesus  Christ 
is  damnable  unbelief,  75 

They  deny  that  the  Light  within 


is  the  atonement  or  propitia- 
tion, 84.  144 

They  neither  divide  nor  distin- 
guish between  Christ  and  Je- 
sus of  Nazareth,  86.  167 

They  do  not  believe  that  the 
Light  of  Christ  suffers  or  dies 
in  men  for  their  justification,  95 

They  hold  that  Christ  could  not 
sin,  101 

No  man  can  be  justified  without 
the  benefit  of  Christ's  suffer- 
ings and  death,  75.  115.  129. 
134 

Quakers  deny  that  a  belief  in  the 
Light  within  is  their  whole 
creed,  or  the  sum  of  their  faith, 
204 

They  deny  that  the  Scriptures 
can  beguile  any  man,  252 

The  Scriptures  are  a  rule  to  try 
doctrines  by,  xv.  40.  56.  250. 
257.  263.  265.  268.  275 

R. 

RESURRECTION,  and  everlast- 
ing rewards  and  punishments 
owned,  60.  67.  86.  90,  91.  120, 
121.  128.  131.  135.  161.  165. 
174.  180.  194,  195,  196.  213, 
■  214.  227  to  229.  273 
RIGGE,  AMBROSE,  Declaration 
of  the  faith  of  Friends,  59.  202 

On  the  Three  that  bear  record  in 
heaven,  59 

On  the  Divinity  and  propitiatory 
sacrifice  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  59.  201  to  203 

He  is  our  Mediator,  Advocate, 
and  complete  Saviour,  203 

Even  the  saints  have  need  of 
Christ's  mediation  and  inter- 
cession, ib. 
ROOK,  GEORGE,  Declaration  of 
faith,  xix.  90 

Of  the  Three  that  bear  record  in 
heaven,  ib. 

Of  the  Divinity  and  propitiation 
of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ,  ib. 
ROGERS,  WILLIAM,  disowned 
for  publishing  a  manuscript 
without  first  submitting  it  to 
the  Morning  Meeting  in  Lon- 
don, xxviii. 


INDEX. 


317 


RUCKHILL,  ROBERT,  on  the 
Holy  Scriptures,  270 

RUTT,  ABRAHAM,  his  testimony 
concerning  Jesus  Christ,  156 
His  miraculous  conception,  Divi- 
nity, propitiatory  death,  resur- 
rection and  ascension  owned 
by  the  Quakers,  156,  157 

S. 

SACRILEGE  to  rob  Jesus  Christ 
of  his  Godhead,  80,  81 

SCRIPTURES,  HOLY,  Quakers 
believe  in  their  Divine  autho- 
rity and  authenticity,  xv.  41. 
44.  46.  50.  56.  65.  74.  86.  123. 
135.  159.  167.  169.  192.  194. 
197.  199,  200.  204.  207.  211. 
213.  219.  224.  226.  234,235. 
237.  239.  245,  246  to  304 
Quakers  believe  them  to  be  a 
rule  to  try  doctrines  by,  xv.40. 
56.  250.  257.  263.  265. 268. 275 

SEATON,  ALEXANDER,  testi- 
mony to  the  excellence  of  Bar- 
clay's Apology,  xxi. 
Declaration  of  the  faith  of  Friends, 
219 

SHARP,  ANTHONY,  declaration 
of  faith,  xix. 
Of  the  Three  that  bear  record  in 

Heaven,  90 
The  divinity  and  propitiatory  sa- 
crifice of  Jesus  Christ  owned, 
ib. 

On  rewards  and  punishments,  ib. 
SHEWEN,  WILLIAM,  belief  of 
the  true  Christian  in  the  holy 
Three,  52 

His  faith  in  the  divinity  of  Jesus 
Christ,  as  the  Redeemer,  and 
Saviour  and  Sanctifier  of  his 
people,  ib.  158,  159 

The  cleansing  virtue  of  Christ's 
blood,  159 

On  the  holy  Scriptures,  52,  271 
SMITH,  HUMPHREY,  on  the  di- 
vinity and  propitiatory  sacri- 
fice of  Jesus  Christ,  1 18 

Justification  by  the  blood  of 
Christ  shed  at  Jerusalem,  ib. 

On  the  holy  Scriptures,  263 
SMITH,  WILLIAM,  confession  of 
faith,  xviii.  136 

Quakers  believe   all  that  the 


Scriptures  testify  concerning 

Christ  Jesus,  136 
Divinity  and  offices  of  Christ 

owned,  ib. 
SMITH,  STEPHEN,  on  the  holy 

Scriptures,  273 
SOCINIANS,  the  Quakers  ground- 

lessly  coupled  with  them,  43 
STAMPER,  FRANCIS,  testimony 

to  the  value  of  Barclay's  Apo- 

losry,  xxi. 
ST0R\,  THOMAS,  declaration 

of  faith,  &C.XXV.  90.  179 
Of  the  Three  that  bear  record  in 

Heaven,  90 
On  the  miraculous  conception, 

divinity  and  propitiatory  sa- 
crifice of  Jesus  Christ,  179, 

180 

He  is  our  Intercessor,  *and  will 
be  our  Judge,  ib. 
STORY,  CHRISTOPHER,  on  the 
belief  of  the  Quakers,  191 

Divinity,  miraculous  conception, 
atoning  death,  resurrection, 
ascension  and  second  coming 
of  Jesus  Christ,  191  to  193 
STORY,  JOHN,  account  of  his 

separation,  &c.  146 
STOUT,  H.  his  testimony  concern- 
ing Christ,  156 

Quakers  believe  in  the  miraculous 
conception,  divinity,  propitia- 
tory sacrifice,  resurrection  and 
ascension  of  the  Lord  Jesus, 
ib. 

SWEETING,  H.  his  testimony  to 
the  miraculous  conception,  di- 
vinity, propitiatory  sufferings 
and  death,  resurrection,  ascen- 
sion and  glorification  of  Christ, 
156 

T. 

TAYLOR,  CHRISTOPHER,  the 
efficacy  of  Christ's  offering 
owned,  144 

TESTIMONY  against  William 
Rogers  for  publishing  a  reply 
to  R.  Barclay  without  first  sub- 
mitting it  to  the  morning  meet- 
ing, XXV  iii. 
Against  Jeffery  Bullock  for  deny- 
ing Christ  Jesus  and  his  pro- 


318 


INDEX. 


pitiatory  sacrificev  145  to  152. 
236  to  241 

THOMAS  RICHARD,  testimony 
to  the  miraculous  conception, 
divinity,  propitiatory  sacrifice, 
resurrection  and  ascension  of 
Jesus  Christ,  156 

THREE  THAT  BEAR  RECORD 
IN  HEAVEN.  The  Quakers 
sincerely  believe  this  doctrine 
according  to  1  John  v.  "7.  xv. 
xxii.  xxxix.  to  59.  97.  99.  137. 
206.  222 

TOLERATION  ACT,  extended  to 

Friends,  46 
TOMPKINS,  JOHN,  declaration  of 
faith,  XXV.  196  to  200 

Quakers  believe  in  the  divinity 
and  atonement  of  Jesus  Christ, 
also  in  his  glorious  offices,  as 
King,  Priest,  Prophet,  Media- 
tor and  Intercessor,  196  to  200 

On  the  excellency  of  the  holy 
Scriptures,  276. 

'  U. 

UPSHER,  THOMAS,  it  is  neces- 
sary to  believe  in  Jesus  Christ 
as  he  was  manifest  at  Jerusa- 
lem, 193 
The  resurrection  of  both  just  and 

unjust,  193 
On  the  holy  Scriptures,  283 


V. 

VAN  DE  WALL,  DANIEL,  decla- 
ration of  the  belief  of  Friends, 
201 

VAUGHTON,  JOHN,  testimony  to 
the  value  of  Barclay's  Apology, 
xxi. 

The  holy  Three  that  bear  record 
in  heaven,  58 

Declarations  of  faith  on  behalf  of 
Friends,  ib. 

Miraculous  conception,  divinity 
and  propitiatory  sacrifice  of  Je- 
sus Christ,  153 

The  divine  inspiration  and  au- 
thority of  the  holy  Scriptures, 

.  290 

V^. 

V^ATSON,  JOHN,  confession  of 
faith,  xxiii.  52.  164 


Of  the  Three  that  bear  record  in 
heaven,  52 

On  the  divinity,  propitiatory  sa- 
crifice, resurrection  and  ascen- 
sion of  Jesus  Christ,  165 

He  is  now  come  the  second  time 
by  his  Holy  Spirit,  ib. 
WATSON,  SAMUEL,  on  the  divi- 
nity, propitiatory  sacrifice,  re- 
surrection and  glorification  of 
Jesus  Christ,  162,  163 
WHITEHEAD,  GEORGE,  decla- 
rations of  the  Faith  of  Friends 
by  him  and  others,  xxii.  45, 46. 
97.  101, 102, 103 

Testimony  to  the  value  of  Bar- 
clay's writings,  xxi. 

Quakers'  belief  in  the  holy  Three 
that  bear  record  in  heaven,  xxii. 
45,  46.  97.  99 

The  deity  of  Jesus  Christ  assert- 
ed, 46.  97  to  110 

The  holy  Scriptures  are  given  by 
divine  inspiration,  46.  257  to 
262 

Testimony  concerning  George 
Fox,  62 

Quakers  believe  in  the  propitia- 
tory sacrifice  of  Christ  Jesus, 
95  to  110 

They  deny  the  false  notion  that 
Christ  suffers  in  men  as  an 
atonement  for  sin,  95.  103 

Christ  Jesus  hath  a  glorified  body 
in  the  heavens,  94.  103 

He  is  our  Mediator,  96.  102.  104. 
107 

He  could  not  sin,  101 
Quakers  are  no  Socinians,  100 
Quakers  believe  that  Jesus  of 

Nazareth  is  the  very  Christ, 

101,  102 

They  do  not  divide  the  humanity 
and  Godhead  of  Jesus  Christ, 
103 

It  is  a  perversion  to  say  that  they 
believe  only  in  Christ  within, 
104 

On  the  Holy  Scriptures,  257  to 

262 

WHITEHEAD,  JOHN,  on  the 
miraculous  birth,  divinity,  pro- 
pitiation, &c.  of  our  Lord  Je- 
sus Christ,  128  to  130 
On  the  holy  Scriptures,  270 


INDEX. 


319 


WILSON,  WILLIAM,  on  the  doc- 
trine of  the  Three  that  bear 
record  in  heaven,  51 
On  the  Divinity  of  Christ,  ib. 
WILKINSON,  JOHN,  his  separa- 
tion from  Friends,  146 
WOOD,  HENRY,  of  the  Three 
.  that  bear  record  in  heaven,  51 
On  the  Divinity,  &;c.  of  Jesus 
Christ,  ib, 
WYETH,  JOSEPH,  on  the  Three 
that  bear  record   in  heaven, 
xxvi.  54 

On  the  Divinity  and  manhood  of 
Christ,  xxvi.  54,  180  to  183 

Quakers  have  not  changed  their 
doctrines,  xxvii. 

They  beheve  in  the  miraculous 
conception,  propitiatory  death, 
Sec.  of  Jesus  Christ,  180,  181 


On  the  Holy  Scriptures,  277 
Y. 

yearly;  meeting.  Extracts 
from  its  Epistles  on  the  divini- 
ty and  offices  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  231  to  236 

Rule  of  Discipline  made  in  1694 
relative  to  persons  holding  un- 
sound doctrines,  244 

Rule  of  Discipline  relative  to 
travelling  ministers,  245 

Rule  of  Philadelphia,  Baltimore, 
North  Carolina,  Ohio  and  In- 
diana Yearly  Meetings,  rela- 
tive to  unsound  doctrines,  246 

Extracts  from  Epistles  relative  to 
the  Holy  Scriptures,  291 


Date  Due 


■;:ULTY 

PRINTED 

IN  U.  S.  A. 

